Phil and James being all adorable in Jessica Soho

On those battle scars at about 2:50:
James: It's a small price to pay for winning

To me, they just make you look like true Spartans. ;)

Phil: Magandang gabi sa inyong lahat. Ako si Phil
James: At ako si James
Phil: Mabuhay
James: Mabuhay

Azkals under Belo?

Anyone else curious about the Azkals-Belo thing? 

Well Neil is, too. Tell me about it.

 

I love how Aly is still a captain even off the field.

Here's what Dr. Belo says:

Azkals for Metro Society Magazine

The camera woman was clearly clueless on their names, but not as clueless as they were when the camera was shoved up their faces.

This video is too cute.

I think the shoot was for the March cover. I wonder how it will turn out.

Aly Borromeo on Startalk

What's he doing in a showbiz gossip show? Then again, what am I doing running a women's blog on athletes?

I also managed to grab this picture of Aly and his girlfriend in an interview done by PhilStar. I unfortunately don't know her name. What do you think? :D

Philippines vs. Mongolia AFC Challenge Cup 1

Getty Images

The home game we've all been waiting for.
And when I say we, I mean the whole Philippines - who was, almost literally, present at the Panaad Stadium that day. Not a single inch of space around the stadium was unoccupied, and all of it cheering for the Philippines.

In the end, after what appeared to be the longest human wave in history, the Philippines won the game 2-0 against Mongolia. It did not come easily however, with both goals having happened in the dying minutes of each half. I personally expected the Philippines to do better, as the opponents they were dealing with were fainting with heat along the way in stretchers. Not to mention that one Mongolian Altantulga Pagamsuren who was sent out for a red card that left the team playing with 10 players instead of 11.

Chieffy Caligdong's goal gives me chills until now. Phil's goal took us all by surprise - especially that Mongolian keeper.

Philippines
Caligdong 42'
P. Younghusband 93'

Check out some pictures here by S. Kieron Tan.
or
Enjoy some Match GIFs:


Aly! Catch this!




Here you go Jason


I feel the need to tackle someone


Okay Jason I'll do it


No Phil I can tackle this guy myself


Now look what you made me do Jason


It was good enough Rob


Hey move back I wanna tackle someone too


But tackling is dangerous!


Hey who tackled James?!


WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING LET'S GET SOME GOALS IN


Okay here you go Chieffy!


Oh is this what you need?



Awesome CHIEFFY! Make another goal!


Hey Simon maybe you could get a goal in


Okay how about this?


Nah you do it Phil


Okay fine



ZOMG It went in!


Can I have your jersey?


We're wearing the same jersey! Don't give yours to coach!

Azkals vs. CPU Korea Friendly

Azkals 4 - 1 CPU Koreans (read more about it in the Manila Bulletin)

Azkals:
Simon Greatwich 17'
Ian Araneta 44'
Aly Borromeo 50'
William Guerridon 65'

CPU Koreans
Gyung Sik Choi 49'

Also known as the reason for why "the team had to sneak out the backside of the hotel last night for dinner... lol" - Anton del Rosario

Now that we're done appreciating that impressive performance by the Azkals (minus Phil Younghusband who was benched for a minor hamstring injury), let us put into account what the Azkals are actually dealing with in Bacolod right now.

This video from ABS-CBN's Bandila should show you what:

As if that video above wasn't enough, this one posted by Azkal News gives us a closer look on the craziness in Bacolod.

Girl in orange at 0:50. You just physically displayed what a number of us really feel when we see them but dare not openly show it. You are brave. :D

I never really got these tweets until that video:

Also, sneaky Jason makes an appearance in said game

"Haha everyone thought I'd arrive on the 5th"

 

 

More pictures here and here.

Fan footage from here:

Phil speaking Filipino

Oh he's fluent, alright.

Video from Sports Unlimited TV.

Phil Younghusband tries acting

What a loverboy. ;)

Well was he convincing?

 Check out the post here.

Simon Greatwich in the middle of Basketball

Finding an Azkal in the middle of a basketball-centric webshow like GMA's FTW was bound to happen anyways.

In this first part, Simon Greatwich is eventually forced to squeeze out any amount of the Filipino language he knows (probably due to the lack of anything to talk about, since I'm sure the interviewers would rather talk about basketball) and unfortunately ends up remembering and saying a Filipino curse phrase instead. At least he tried.
Don't worry, they get more out of him in this article published by the same show:
"The only Tagalog sentence he [Simon Greatwich] knows by heart is 'Magkano sa Legaspi Towers sa Roxas Boulevard?'"
By the way he also mentions Neil his love Etheridge.

This second one has got more football, with one of the interviewers having been a former footballer himself. This talks about Philippine football in the future, grassroots, etc. - which gives him a reason to mention Phil!

To be honest I stopped listening at some point. I got distracted... with his face.

The Azkals in the middle of basketball have been desirable so far. Remember James' picture? Yeah. Keep them coming. ;)

Azkals vs. Negros Footballers Friendly

Score 4-4

It's okay, Phil, you scored 2 goals!

Azkals

Phil Younghusband 

Rcardo Becite
Aly Borromeo

Negros
Aldrin Dolino
Jaime Poderoso 

If anything, this just proves that our local football is better than I thought.


Some pictures from Fiel Efenio:

I'm lonely...

Hey Simon!

Yeah?

Want to room with me tonight?

HEY I ASKED HIM FIRST!

Phil, I thought we were rooming together?

I don't know, Phil. That vacant bed is for Neil...

Hello? How about me? I scored a goal?!!

How about in Mongolia? Who are you rooming with in Mongolia?

Me! Room with me Simon!

You guys are disgusting...

Here's a video from ABS-CBN's Bandila: 

More details from this Inquirer article