TASHKENT – The Philippine Under-17 Women’s National Football Team (Filipinas U17) qualified for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup for the third consecutive time, sweeping Group H of the 2027 qualifying tournament with a 3-0 win over Bangladesh on Sunday at Do’stlik Stadium Training Pitch 1.
The Philippines had earlier beaten host Uzbekistan, 4-0, on October 5.
“Qualifying once is an achievement. Qualifying three times in a row tells us the work behind this program is sustainable. Each batch of the Filipinas U17 has built on the one before it, and we are proud of every player, staff member, and supporter who made this possible,” said PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez.
Strong finish
Bangladesh held the Philippines scoreless for 72 minutes. Noelle Granger had a shot in front saved by goalkeeper Meghla Rani Roy in the 5th minute, and Aryanna Capsa’s shot from the left was saved in the 6th. Ariana Enderes’s lob from the top was saved in the 16th, and Granger’s running shot from the right was saved in the 24th.
Bangladesh created chances of its own before halftime. Defender Mousumi Akter headed a left corner slightly wide in the 44th minute, and striker Alpi Akter’s lob from outside the box hit the crossbar in first-half stoppage time.
The Philippines broke through in the 73rd minute. Right back Maya Rose Bascara tapped the ball in during a scramble after a left corner. Goalkeeper Abigail Garcia kept the lead intact in the 79th by saving Alpi Akter in a one-on-one counterattack.
Defender Maya Rose Bascara (14) celebrates as she broke the goalless deadlock in the 73rd minute.
Granger sealed the result late. In the 90th minute, she scored from the front right off a nifty midfield through ball from substitute Ariana Gementiza.
Granger completed her brace later, scoring again off a running strike, after Savannah Chheng’s interception and long ball. The incoming Florida Gator scored five goals in the two qualification games, having scored a hat-trick against Uzbekistan last Monday.
Three batches, one pipeline
The result extends a run of Asian Cup qualifications by the Filipinas U17, and players from earlier batches are now part of the senior Filipinas squad. Alexa Pino, Jael Guy and Ariana Markey of Batch ‘24, and Aiselyn Sia, Tea Pidding and Leah Bradley of Batch ‘26, are now regular members of the national team. The senior Filipinas are seeking a second straight FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance next year.
“Sustainable excellence means a young player can see a path from the U17 team to the senior national team. Alexa, Jael, Ariana, Aiselyn, Tea, and Leah are examples of that path, and they are helping the Filipinas as the senior team pursues a second straight World Cup. We want every new batch to follow them, and we are seeing great potential in the current U17 Filipinas,” Gutierrez said.
Long-term project
Team manager Selu Lozano said the qualification is an achievement the whole team shares.
“Credit goes to our players, coaches, staff and everyone who has supported this journey,” he said.
He also credited former Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic for his guidance during the tournament.
“Beyond his experience at the Olympics and World Cup, what I value most is his genuine care for the Philippines and our girls. As a mentor, a coach, and a friend, his contribution is invaluable,” Lozano said.
Lozano said the program’s direction does not change with the result. “This result gives us encouragement, but whether we win or lose, our long-term direction remains the same,” he said.
He described the aim as a system that develops players over time: “Building an entire development system that feeds the senior national team, with the ambition of reaching a World Cup with at least half the squad homegrown, alongside top overseas Filipinas.”
Lozano said winning matters but is not the only measure of progress. “We want to win today while building something that gives future teams an even better chance,” he said. “We sow now and reap later.”
Filipinas U17 will set their sights on the 2027 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in April 2027 in China. The tournament’s draw will be held in December 2026.
(Photos from the-afc.com)
