RP booters finish second

VIENTIANE, LAOS—The Philippine football team is headed to Hanoi, Vietnam next month after finishing second in the Suzuki Cup Asean Football Championship qualifying event that ended here Tuesday night at the National Stadium.   The Filipinos, who missed out on a spot in the main tournament two years ago, looked on track to advance as the top team in the qualifiers after posting a scoreless draw against Cambodia early Tuesday night.   But Timor Leste yielded four goals in the second half of a 1-6 loss to Laos, allowing the host team to edge the Filipinos on goals scored and lift the trophy in the four-nation qualifying tournament.   As a result, the Philippines, level with Laos with five points, ended up in the group that includes defending champion Vietnam, powerhouse Singapore and Myanmar, a team which the Filipinos battled to a goalless draw for their only point in the 2007 tournament in Bangkok.   Laos is going to Jakarta, where pundits say it will play a tougher group also composed of Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.   Striker Ian Araneta, who produced a spectacular hat-trick in the 5-0 rout of Timor Leste last Friday, attributed the RP XI’s improved form to the system put in place by former English coach Des Bulpin, who handled the team for eight months before quitting last July after getting a better offer in India.   “We owe a lot to coach Des and, of course, the management which has been very supportive to our needs,” said Araneta, referring to the management group headed by Dan Palami.   “There’s hardly been a management team that’s been this supportive in my years with the national team and we wouldn’t have qualified if not for the help of coach Des.”   Another Englishman, Simon McMenemy, took over Bulpin’s post last month, but is only on an eight-week trial.          RP co-skippers Aly Borromeo and Chieffy Caligdong expressed optimism of a better showing this time in the Dec. 2 to 9 tournament.   “If we could have the team back for December, I think we will have a good chance,” said Borromeo, who proved solid on the backline along with Rob Gier and was a marauding figure on set pieces.   “We need to prepare better to stand a chance,” said Caligdong, who shrugged off a groin injury he picked up against Laos to play the last 40 minutes in the game against Cambodia.   Stephan Schrock, a Filipino-German midfielder playing in the second division in Germany, is expected to bolster the side in Hanoi, but top goalkeeper Neil Etheridge is doubtful because of his commitment with his club, Fulham, in the English Premiere League.