2 Davao booters in PH team

TWO players from Davao City have been named to the Philippine national women's football team, which is set to compete in the 2011 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Women's Championship in Laos next month.

The Davao booters are no other than the charming identical twins Marie and Marice Magdolot. The two will form part of the national squad named Malditas, who are set to participate in the Vientiane tournament from October 16 to 25.


The Magdolot twins graduated from the Philippine Women's College (PWC) and are now football scholars at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

The inclusion of the two sisters to the Philippine national team came as a positive note for a Davao football that has ripened through the years. Several young players, boys and girls alike, were also tapped to play for flag and country in various international competitions the past three years.

The national women's team will actually return to action after a two-year hiatus. The Malditas have not played since 2009 when they lost to Vietnam in Myanmar.

In Laos, the Philippine team will be bracketed in Group B and will open its campaign agaimst Myanmar. The Malditas will also play against Thailand and Malaysia in the group stage.

Aside from the Magdolot twins, the PH campaign will be led by Filipino-Americans Heather Cooke and Patrice Impelido, Filipino-Germans Cristina Keuter and Lorrene Bayani, and Canadian Mallory Dayot.

Also in the team are captain Marielle Benitez, Louella Leah Amamio, Samantha Nierras, Maan del Carmen, Isabella Fernando, Kyra Tagbo, Stephanie Pheasant, Jowee-Ann Barruga, Nikki Regalado, Natasha Alquiros, Joma Clemente, Betina Yang, Inna Palacios, Camille Rodriguez, Jane Mariz Pacana, Aiza Moreno, Zipporah Luna, Nenita Burgess and Pricilla Rubio. Coach is Ernie Nierras. (CRAM)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on September 19, 2011.