Azkals among SI's top football stories of 2010

The Philippine national men's football team's gallant effort in the recent ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2010 earned a spot in the Top 10 Football stories of Sports Illustrated's online edition. The Nationals, more popularly known as the Azkals and ranked 151st in the FIFA world rankings, made the list at number 10 with its stunning 2-0 upset of erstwhile defending champion Vietnam in their Group B match in the Suzuki Cup. SI.com writer Georgina Turner called the win one of the biggest upsets in the Suzuki Cup's history. "The (AFF's) biennial Suzuki Cup might not be too high up on your list of priorities, but this year's tournament produced arguably the biggest upset in its history." It was also the first time that the Philippines defeated Vietnam in more than 20 years. The loss did not sit well with Vietnam coach Henrique Calisto as he refused to shake the hand of Philippine mentor Simon McMenemy after the match. "McMenemy was upset by the gesture but wouldn't be drawn into a slanging match after a result that prompted the country's vice president, Jejomar Binay, to promise a national training program," added Turner. The Azkals reached the semifinal round but lost to Indonesia in the two matches they played at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Aside from the 2-0 win against Vietnam, the Philippines also forced former three-time champions Singapore to a 1-1 draw and had a scoreless tie with Myanmar. Vietnam, ranked 137th in the world, is one of the powerhouse squads in the AFF along with finalists Indonesia (127) and Malaysia (144). For a brief while, the team's success overshadowed the power struggle that plagued the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) in the last three months. The PFF board of governors voted Mariano "Nonong" Araneta to replace Jose Mari Martinez, who was ousted primarily on the basis of corruption allegations. The International Football Association (or FIFA, Fédération Internationale de Football Association), which provides at least US$250,000 in financial assistance to the PFF every year, last week recognized Araneta as the association’s president. The controversy had hung over the Philippine national team's heads as they battled more heralded foes and unexpectedly went deeper in the Suzuki Cup. The team, boosted by eight Filipino-foreign players, turned from traditional whipping boys in the Southeast Asian region to legitimate contenders. The Azkals will have a busy 2011 as they prepare for three major events. They are scheduled to play in the AFF Challenge Cup in February, a World Cup qualifying event in July, and the Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia in November. – Jon Perez, KY, GMANews.TV