Small but terrific Buglas Filipinas Football Team excels at Kanga Cup in Australia

They came, they saw, they conquered.

Well, almost.

Buglas Filipinas, an all-Negrense girls football team, travelled about 5,816 kms. to Canberra, Australia, last July 12 and defied the odds.

They finished second in the under-15 female plate of the prestigious 33rd Kanga Cup, one of the largest youth football tournaments in the southern hemisphere.

Dubbed “small but terrific” by some impressed spectators, they surpassed expectations as they came close to bagging the championship with five wins, one loss, and one draw in seven matches.

Their achievement doesn’t sound like much until you consider they faced bigger and taller Australian foes. Physically, they were clearly at a disadvantage.

The venue was not only unfamiliar territory, it was also freezing cold. Coming from a hot and humid Bacolod City where the lowest temperature was 28°C, they struggled while playing in Canberra during the winter when it was 3°C even at noon.

They had a shallow bench. With only 13 players in the line-up due to visa problems, only two substitutions could be made during each 70 minute-match scheduled daily for five days.

Yet, they dominated the elimination round, to the surprise of organizers and fans alike.

They were undefeated in five games, their only “setback” a 1-1 draw.

They shut out the opposition twice (7-0, 4-0).

They scored a total of 17 goals while limiting their opponents to just four goals in all.

In the semifinals, they won a penalty shootout, 3-0, after regulation time ended in a 1-1 deadlock.

It wasn’t until the finals that fatigue and the cold weather finally took their toll, allowing the Rouse Hill Rams to exploit homefield advantage to the fullest.

The 0-4 score was a bitter loss for them since they had earlier beaten the Rams, 2-1, in the preliminaries when they still had fresh legs.

Although they fell short of the title, they came home heads held high, each with a silver medal.

The secret to their outstanding performance? Their “12th man”, Pinoys living in Canberra, along with several family members who traveled with them to give all-out support throughout the tournament.

In all of their matches, Filipino-Aussies and Pinoys outnumbered locals cheering from the bleachers. Some Aussies who found them likable underdogs were even reportedly seen rooting for them.

Rene Jiffrey Lomugdang led the team as technical director. Pangs Silava called the shots as head coach while Elmer Lacknet Bedia, three-time Mr. Football awardee, helped as lead consultant. Rachelle Beatrize Semillano, Christian Earl Bona, Red Yasay, and Ron Gerard Molequin served as assistant coaches.

The players are Nathalie Rhaine Andres, Renee Gavriel Animathea Lomugdang, Chloe Belisse Pasama, Angel Nicole Segovia, Kelsy Skye Anub, Ysabel Anara Yasay, Maxene Dominique Sison, Shanel Dominique Molequin, Hushlee Lhannia De Larrazabal, Claudia Elise Montinola, Jhayne Elainne Dalogdog, Marinel Gonzales, and Yannah Marie Amar.

They represented seven schools in the Negros Island Region. These schools and the number of their players on the team are Univ. of St. La Salle (3), Maranatha Christian College (3), St. Scholastica’s Academy (2), Silliman University (2), Himamaylan Central School (1), Escalante National High School (1) and Bacolod City National High School (1).* (Samuel Colinco Jr.)