Peace Cup: Azkals face Taiwanese

BACOLOD CITY—More than anything else, the Philippine Azkals—almost at full strength—are just relishing the experience of playing together again.

Back in this Visayan city where they notched some of their biggest triumphs, the Azkals hope to improve on cohesion and team chemistry while targeting another trophy in the three-nation Philippine Peace Cup starting today at Panaad Stadium.

The Azkals open their campaign at 7 p.m. against Chinese-Taipei, a team they handily beat last year even without some of their Europe-based standouts.

Coach Michael Weiss said the tournament is part of the buildup for the AFC Challenge Cup next year.

“I’m just happy we have the team together again,” said Weiss, whose team will be powered by German Bundesliga campaigner Stephan Schrock and Danish League veteran Jerry Lucena.

The Azkals, whose campaign here coincides with the staging of the Masskara Festival, are favored against Chinese Taipei, owing to their No. 140 ranking, which is 35 rungs higher than the Taiwanese.