Just when the Azkals began carving a legacy, the War Elephants brought it to a grinding halt.
The Philippine men’s under-23 national football team punctuated their historic run, landing in a valiant fourth place at the 2025 ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup after falling 3–1 to Thailand in the third-place playoff held at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on July 28.
Thailand claimed a 3–1 victory with goals from Phanthamit Praphanth, Siraphop Wandee, and Seksan Ratree, while Otu Abang Banatao salvaged a late header for the Philippines.
"At the moment, it's hard, it's a hard one for me, so we came here and we wanted desperately to win the football match and we wanted to do that with the same positivity and aggressiveness as what we've shown," Garrate McPherson quipped in the post-game interview.
The thai ballers took the wheel early and drove the pace early, dictating the opening offensive plays with Panthamit Prapanth's 29' opener, followed by Siraphop Wandee's missile at 74th, 2-0
However, the blue-clad troupes shrugged off the initial stumble five minutes after Bisong Banatao pierced a goal from Gavin Muens' assist for a 2-1 deadlock in the 79th minute.
But the War Elephants brought back the spark in the 85th, as Seksan Ratree struck the last dagger off Crypton Otton's volley over a Filipino defender.
Thailand stayed on the front foot all the way, sustaining the well-established lead to put the game out of reach, 3-1.
Following this remarkable run, the Azkals will gear up for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in December.
