Azkals Team Building at Plantation Bay Cebu

It’s been a while since I did a post on the Azkals and I saw these really fun pics of the Azkals during their team building in Cebu. I thought today would be a great day to post them, because even if I didn’t make it to Sri Lanka to watch their game last week (I was supposed to time my visit with my best friend there) nor can I watch tomorrow’s home game live, TD and I are totally thinking of them and hoping they win and move on to the next round! So here are some of the pics in no particular order, with permission from Ace Bright, for your enjoyment. =)

Azkals liaison officer, Ace Bright , who was lovely enough to let me use his photos. I hope you don’t mind the liberties I used with some color correction and cropping!

Ace with Nate Burkey

Nate doing an amazing roll on the slide.

5 Azkals just chillin’ on a kayak

Neil Etheridge, the epitome of chillax

Paolo Pascual

Our Potato Head drinking buddies: Josef, Ace and Richard

intense look from Etheridge =P

James Rochlitz, trainer Josef Malinay, Ace and Nate Burkey

Misagh Bahadoran, Toffer Camcam, (Anyone know who this is? Help?) and Paolo Pascual

The Younghusband bros give the camera a look

quirky-faced Misagh Bahadoran

I thought this pic looked better in B&W

Aw. Our version of Schweinski (the ultimate bromance of Schweinsteiger & Podolski ), Neil Etheridge + Simon Greatwhich = Etherich? Or Greatridge?? LOL!

Nate Burkey

There are so many new faces since I met the Azkals here in Jakarta when they competed for the Suzuki Cup! I can barely keep up with the new names. And there are so many more who weren’t in this team building so they aren’t in the pics. That Nate Burkey has become very popular with the pinoy girls I’m sure! Especially after hitting the lone away goal against Sri Lanka which is very important for the team. Since this is a rather ..ahem..”demure” blog, I wont be posting this risque picture of Nate Burkey from Hell Yeah-Azkals. Oh and since there are so many fine pics of Nate, I just wanna say that friend, Anton is super fine too. Check him out here, here and here. =P

I digress… So here are the scenarios for this afternoon’s game so you know what to hope/pray/beg/wish for:

• If we win by a goal or more then we move on.
• If we draw 0-0, we still go through.
• If it’s a 1-1 score it goes to extra time (30mins), then if no one scores there is a penalty shoot-out (5 shots from each side and best of 5). If they shoot the same amount of goals, they it goes to a sudden death format or a penalty shoot-out. Players from each team take turns taking penalty shots, whoever ends up with a goal ahead (say one team gets a goal and the other misses) is the one who will progress to the next stage in the World Cup Qualifications.
• If it’s 2-2 score then Sri Lanka wins and moves on.

Of course I hope they win by as many goals as possible, but whatever as long as they progress to the next stage!!! I’ll settle for a 0-0 draw! =P

Good luck to  the Azkals on their game versus Sri Lanka this 3/3:30 pm  (2nd leg home game)!!! Go Philippines! Go Azkals!

P.S.

To read updates on the Azkals head on over to Bleachers’ Brew by Rick Olivares where I get my updates!