By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) just released the 22-player roster that will headline the under-23 Azkals squad for the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Group H qualification matches.
Leading the way for the pool are Azkals Development Team players Oliver Bias, Mark Winhoffer, and Quincy Kammeraad.
United City FC’s Justin Baas was also included in the list and is expected to perform after gaining the much-needed experience he got in the Philippines Football League (PFL).
Aside from his experience playing in the PFL, Baas was also called up by Azkals head coach Scott Cooper to reinforce the team during the joint 2022 FIFA World Cup/2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Sharjah, UAE.
Christian Rontini, Dennis Chung, Jethro Borlongan, Yrick Gallantes, Mandy Ignacio, Oskari Kekkonen; Sandro Reyes, Mark Francis Swainston, and Ivan Ouano are also included in the pool.
Completing the 22-member PH pool are Jessie Semblante, Enrico Mangaoang, Paolo Niccola Perez, David Kevin Setters, Nathan Rilloraza, Shanden Vergara, Kieran Hayes, Miguel Antonio Mendoza, and Jens Sebastian Rasmussen.
The Filipino booters will have to clinch first place in Group H of the qualifiers if they want to punch a ticket in the main draw of the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup to be held in Uzbekistan on June 1-19, 2022.
