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[av_heading heading=’Ilonggo Doctora returns to Azkals for Taipei tilt ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday, December 1, 2017
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MANILA – Ruben Doctora Jr. returns to international football scene with the Philippine Azkals in the Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA) International Tournament from Dec. 1 to 5 in Taipei.
Doctora, a native of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, played in international friendlies against Malaysia and Nepal in 2014 and was called up for national team duty in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against Tajikistan in Dushanbe just this June.
The 31-year-old Ilonggo had been tapped to play for the Azkals six times.
He made his lone international goal during the Philippine squad’s 3-0 victory over Nepal in April 2014.
Aside from Doctora, also tapped to play for Azkals were Phil and James Younghusband, Dylan De Bruycker, Angel Guirado, Nick O’Donnell, Mike Ott, Simone Rota, and Fitch Arboleda.
Also named in the team were Philippines Football League mainstays Nathaniel Alquiros, Junell Bautista, Jaime and Justin Cheng, Reymart Cubon, James Hall, Yannick Tuazon, Adam Tull, and Reynald Villareal.
Azkals also tapped five players from the UAAP – Julian Clarino, Christian Lapas and Kintayo Miyagi of University of the Philippines, Javier Gayoso of Ateneo de Manila University, and Ray Joyel of Far Eastern University.
Since the four-team tournament is outside the FIFA international match window, the Final Four teams in the PFL – Meralco Manila, Ceres Negros, Kaya Makati, and Global Cebu – were not required to lend their players.
“This tournament is a good opportunity for the young players to experience being part of the men’s team and show their potential in the higher level,” said Marlon Maro, who will coach the Azkals team in lieu of Thomas Dooley.
Azkals will open its campaign against Laos at 4 p.m. on Dec. 1, followed by Taiwan at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 and East Timor at 4 p.m. on Dec. 5. All games will be held at the Taipei Municipal Stadium./PN
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