Catching up with the U23 Azkals

On Thursday the U23 Azkals were beaten by Kaya 2-0 in Emperador Stadium as part of the UFL Preseason Cup. The game proved to be a window into the state of the team as they prepare for December's SEA Games where they hopefully will be allowed to compete.

Brian Reid's squad were missing a ton of starters for various reasons. Goalie Patrick Deyto, left back Ronnie Aguisanda, and presumably centerback Boiboi Fernandez are with Green Archers United Globe in a provincial sortie. The other first-choice center half, Amani Aguinaldo, is with the U19 team in Surabaya. Jinggoy Valmayor was sick, and I was told that Paolo Bugas was busy with his studies.

There were plenty of unfamiliar faces in the starting lineup. It was a good way for Reid to evaluate some guys on the fringes of making the final squad. This was the starting eleven.

Hartmann Fornea

Christiaens MvAngeles Eusebio

MwAngeles

Octavio DeJong(C) Segunial Ochotorena

Pascual

The makeshift squad acquitted themselves very well against a vastly more experienced Kaya squad. Kaya pressed them relentlessly and had a few more attempts. It was probably a fair scoreline. Here's a position-by-position look at the team that day.

Paolo Pascual- The Cebuano has been buried in the Global goalkeeping depth chart for as long as anyone can remember. Thankfully his team has also loaned him out to Union to give him badly needed experience.

Patrick Deyto appears to have the starting keeper slot sewn up, and deservedly so. The other keepers were unavailable. Marco Poli wasn't there, perhaps he is with Loyola in Indonesia, and Nick O'Donnell came on for Kaya. Paolo was the only option for Reid and he didn't disappoint.

Pascual was very solid in the game, with only one harrowing moment in the first half, when he was late in kicking a ball, had it relieved of him, and very nearly saw the ball go into the net in the ensuing play.

Other than that he came out of his area well and made some lovely reaction saves. He also did a good job of communicating with his back four. Pascual was hardly to blame on either goal.

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Nathan Octavio – The former UP standout shone on the left flank of the U23 defense. He did a good job of smothering the Kaya attack on that side and is very confident with the ball at his feet. He wasn't afraid of venturing forward either. In the second half he made an audacious run downfield, outfoxing a Kaya defender, offloaded the ball, got it back deep in enemy territory, then was fouled.

Octavio will give Aguisanda some competition in the left back slot, and will be an asset for Pachanga-Diliman for years to come.

Jason De Jong – Wore the captain's armband at center back and was quite good. He won't play that position once Aguinaldo and Fernandez are available, but it's comforting to have him as an emergency option.

Deo Segunial – The towering UP centerback had a useful stint filling in for Fernandez. He needs to improve his handling of high balls. He misjudged two of them on Thursday. (One wonders if the stadium's low light towers are to blame.) But in general he was able to tidy up well.

The first goal was very unlucky. A loose ball pinballed between Segunial and De Jong straight to an unmarked Scott Baginski, who blasted it home.

Segunial will be very important for the Philippines going forward. He is a young, tall, centerback in a country that has very few of them. His development will be crucial.

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Nino Ochotorena – The Dipolognon, like Segunial, needs to work on dealing with the long balls. But generally no major problems for the Global youngster at right back.

His best moment: outrunning Dinho Mbata on a footrace for a loose ball in the second half. Jason Arroyo and Aaron De Rama have told me they are in awe of his world-class speed, much like his town-mate Jerry Barbaso. What do they feed the kids in Dipolog?

Marwin and Marvin Angeles – Marwin played holding (defensive) mid, while Marvin took the attacking mid spot. Both are wonderful on the ball, and as expected worked well together in the middle of the park. Is it just me or are they getting taller? It seems that way. I'm also glad that Marwin has sprouted a shock of yellow hair, which makes it a lot easier to tell them apart.

Marvin almost scored in the second half but his close-range attempt was stuffed by Saba Sadeghi Garmaroudi.

Jeffrey Christiaens – Superb. He and Mark Hartmann will be the engines of this U23 team. Christiaens' work rate is legendary, and his ability to cross from either side is useful. The Fil-Belgian started out at the left wing but was also seen drifting over to the right flank. Christiaens will be desperately disappointed to head wide twice late in the game.

Jay Eusebio – I've been high on this kid ever since I saw him in UAAP. I'll never forget that one play where he dribbled around Ateneo's Jacobo Lorenzo as if he was a training cone. Great to see him as a late addition to the pool.

The Los Baños native loves to play quick one-touch passes, which is a good move in the phonebooth that is the Emperador Stadium pitch. Kinda reminds me of how Lexton Moy would do the same with the Azkals.

Eusebio is quick but could use some bulking up.

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Mark Hartmann – As usual, massively influential. His ability to contort his body and whip out accurate passes from the weirdest of angles is remarkable. He also displayed a willingness to work without the ball.

Hartmann's free kicks are beautiful. Plenty of sting, lots of spin and swing.

Dingdong Fornea – The Masbateño had a mixed day. The San Beda star has a very good first touch and does have a nose for goal. His dribbling skills are also good.

But one deficiency that stood out on Thursday was a weakness in the air. Twice Fornea was supplied with first half crosses in front of goal, and both times he sprayed them tamely. Perhaps the willowy Fornea lacks the powerful neck muscles to snap the ball in.

Jinggoy Valmayor, on the other hand is a magnificent header of the ball. In the last Preseason Cup game I watched, he nodded home powerfully twice within a ten minute span for Pachanga-Diliman.

If only we could put Fornea and Valmayor in a blender and have have a player with Dingdong's speed and Jinggoy's power and heading skill pop out....

Josh Beloya – Came on as a second half sub. Flashes of brilliance, nearly scored off a rebound. Played for Ceres earlier in the day in a 3-3 friendly draw with Pachanga, so didn't have much gas.

Jimmy Malalo-an and Neil Doriman – Late subs both. Malalo-an also played for Ceres earlier and slotted in at holding mid. Dorimon replaced Octavio. Hard to evaluate both since they didn't play much. However these two kids are both decent physical specimens. It's good to see defensive players from the provinces who are tall and sturdy. Dorimon is a Cebuano who plays for San Beda while Malalo-an hails from San Carlos City.

OJ Porteria – Is very much a part of the U23 team but played for Kaya on Thursday. Created the second goal by blazing down the right flank on the break and furnishing Woody Ugarte with a terrific assist that was clinically finished.

This is the game-changing quality that the Virginian brings to the team. It will be sorely needed if the side does make it to Myanmar.

Nick O'Donnell – Replaced Garmaroudi late. Is in a dogfight with Pascual and Poli for the second-choice keeper slot. Didn't have that much to do, but has a bright future. Ateneo will miss him. He is a huge reason why they won the UAAP title last February.

“We couldn't put the ball in the net” bemoaned Reid afterwards. The Scot also complained about a lack of continuity in the preparations. He says that many teams are not releasing players for the U23 NT, which means there are different guys showing up for practice every time.

“Same story every week. I need to have the same 20 players here every practice.”

Reid is also not happy with schools holding back some players.

“In Scotland, when a lad is selected for a national team, there's a big celebration. It's a credit to the school.”

The team has now defeated Forza 2-0, lost by default to Navy (the pitch was so waterlogged they refused to play and are appealing the default) then fell to Kaya in the Preseason Cup.

The squad faces plenty of adversity, including the continuing inability of the PSC and POC to decide their fate. But no matter what, the team soldiers on.

Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.