Ice hockey may not be the first sport that comes to mind when thinking of the Philippines, but the country made history with their golden debut at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Challenge Cup of Asia in 2019. Despite it being only their first time competing in the tournament, the Philippine ice hockey team emerged victorious, beating Thailand in a thrilling final. This unexpected win has put Philippine ice hockey on the radar and shed a spotlight on the growth of the sport in Southeast Asia. In this article, we delve into the team’s journey to the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia and how the win has impacted the country’s ice hockey scene.
After a long wait and several setbacks due to the pandemic, the Philippines finally captured the Division IV gold at the IIHF World Championship in Mongolia. The team had been scheduled to make its first appearance in the competition during the 2019/20 season, but the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. The following year, the tournament was again cancelled, and the Filipino team had to withdraw from the 2022 competition in Kyrgyzstan. However, the team’s luck changed in Mongolia, where they swept to gold with a flawless performance and were promoted to Division IIIB.
The Philippines impressed from the outset, as rookie forward Kenwrick Sze scored the team’s first goal just 21 seconds into the opening game against Indonesia. Sze went on to finish the game with a hat-trick and four assists, while two other players, newly-appointed team captain Manvil Billones and Carl Michael Montaro, also scored hat-tricks. However, the team faced a much tougher challenge against host nation Mongolia, which had won its opening game against Kuwait 8-0.
The Philippines led 3-0 after the first intermission, but Mongolia fought back to tie the game at 3-3 after 40 minutes. A breathless third period saw both teams score six goals, forcing the game to go to overtime. The winner came 72 seconds into the extras, with Billones instrumental in the decisive play. The Philippines then defeated Kuwait 14-0 in its final game to secure top spot, with Montano scoring another hat-trick and Billones finishing as the top scorer with 12 points.
The Philippines dominated the scoring chart, with the top five scorers representing the gold medallist. Mongolia’s leading scorers had six points each. Ali Alsharraf of Kuwait received the directorate’s best forward of the competition award, while Eishner Sebug was the top scorer among defenders and Mongolian netminder Munkhbold Bayarsaikhan won the best goalie prize.
The Philippines’ victory sees the team move up to Division IIIB, where they will face Singapore, the team that knocked them out of the semi-finals in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The Filipino hockey community gathered at the SM Mall of Asia rink in Pasay to watch the action from Mongolia and celebrate their team’s triumph.
In conclusion, the IIHF World Championship saw a historic moment as the Philippines made their golden debut in the tournament. The team’s determination and hard work paid off, earning them a well-deserved victory and a spot in the record books. This achievement not only brings pride to the nation but also serves as an inspiration to aspiring hockey players in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia. We look forward to witnessing the growth of hockey in this region and hope to see more teams make their mark on the international stage. Congratulations to the Philippines on their golden debut, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this exciting team.
