PHILIPPINE Football Federation president John Gutierrez called the women’s team’s historic gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games a defining moment for Philippine football.
In a message posted at the official PFF website, Gutierrez said, “This gold medal is a defining moment for Philippine football and a testament to generations of Filipinas who dreamed of standing on top of the SEA Games podium.”
The Filipinas started on a wrong foot, losing to Myanmar 1-0, before roaring back to life with a 1-0 win over Vietnam. They then routed Malaysia, 6-0, to book a spot in the semifinal round, where they showed their grit after scoring a late equalizer and beating the Thais via shootout, 4-2.
In the finals, Vietnam dominated most of the play but the Filipinas won again via shootout for the historic gold medal.
“It is the culmination of a collective, long-term effort—built on the progress of previous years and strengthened by the current momentum of the Filipinas. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the players–the reliable veterans and the young rising stars–who gave all their heart on the pitch. We thank the coaches, team staff, and management who helped make this achievement possible,” said Guiterrez.
The Filipinas campaign was followed closely, with fans all over the world showing their support.
“We also thank the thousands of Filipinos who showed their support at the stadium and from home. What this team has achieved tonight will inspire young girls across the country to believe that history can be rewritten through perseverance, unity, and pride in representing the flag,” said Gutierrez.