John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765281609079IMG_0192.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Philippine men&#x27;s national football team celebrates after Otu Banatao scored a goal against Indonesia in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 8, 2025 at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai. PFF-PMNFT Media"/>The Philippine men&#x27;s national football team celebrates after Otu Banatao scored a goal against Indonesia in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 8, 2025 at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai. PFF-PMNFT Media</div>The Philippine men&#x27;s Under-22 football team knows the job&#x27;s not done at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.They&#x27;re aiming for more, right after making history by reaching the SEA Games semifinals for the first time in 34 years.As they shift their focus to the Final Four, coach Garrath McPherson said the team&#x27;s goal is to claim a coveted medal.“The players obviously have set their own goals as a group. Before the tournament, they set themselves the goals of at least semifinals and placing with a medal in this tournament,” said McPherson.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/12/8/seag-ph-men-through-to-football-semis-after-beating-indonesia-2114">READ: SEAG: PH men through to football semis after beating Indonesia</a></div>The U22 team is set to face either the Group A topnotcher or the Group B ruler with a historic ticket to the gold medal match on the line.McPherson’s troops had swept their two assignments in Group C, beating Myanmar, 2-0, before following it up with a 1-0 victory over defending champion Indonesia at Chiang Mai’s 700th Anniversary Stadium, to advance ahead of anyone else.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/12/5/football-ph-men-overcome-myanmar-for-winning-start-to-sea-games-2104">READ: Football: PH men overcome Myanmar for winning start to SEA Games</a></div>The victory rekindled the magic of the 1991 SEAG in Manila, the last time the Philippine men’s football squad made it past the eliminations. In that celebrated run, the Filipinos finished fourth overall.&quot;Our focus now is on enjoying some rest after playing two games in a span of four days and we now get to have some rest, (time to) recharge, mentally and physically,&quot; said McPherson.

The Philippine men's Under-22 football team knows the job's not done at the #2025SEAGames in Thailand.

The Philippine men's Under-22 football team knows the job's not done at the #2025SEAGames in Thailand.

Semis-bound PH booters aiming for more in SEA Games

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Semis-bound PH booters aiming for more in SEA Games

ABS-CBN News

Published December 09, 2025 08:31 PM PHT

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football

Southeast Asian Games

Philippine men's Under-22 football team

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