A FEARLESS attacking display boosted the Philippines to a 4-0 triumph over Timor Leste at the start of men’s football at the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho, Vietnam, on Friday.
Over at Tuan Chau Island in Quang Nihn Province, the men’s handball team also opened its campaign on a high note with an 18-16, 18-16 upset of Thailand, which clinched silver in 2019 behind Vietnam.
But the Filipino beach handball athletes, who completed the podium at home in 2019, will put their mettle to a test against the host and defending champions on Saturday.
Goals from Christian Rontini, Dennis Chung, Jovin Bedic and Oskari Kekkonen propelled coach Norman Fegidero’s side to a first victory in a tough Group A that also includes defending champion and host Vietnam, 2019 runner-up Indonesia and Myanmar.
Rontini opened scoring with a pinpoint header…
