The Philippine Azkals have started their Doha training camp Monday, May 24, in preparation for the resumption of the World Cup/Asian Cup Qualifiers in early-June.
Team captain Stephan Schrock leads a group of 12 players who are now in the Qatari capital for the weeklong camp which coach Scott Cooper hopes would be enough for the Azkals to be ready once they arrive in Suzhou, China for the final three matches of the second round.
Other players in Doha are veterans Mark Hartmann, Angel Guirado, Alvaro Silva, Luke Woodland, Patrick Reichelt and Jarvey Gayoso while Matt Baldissimo, Niko de Vera, Mar Diano, Mark Winhoffer, Bernd Schipmann and Michael Kempter comprise the newcomers.
Thirteen players, including ace goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, are due to join the camp before leaving for Suzhou on Monday, May 31.
The Azkals begin their Suzhou sojourn against Guam on June 3 followed by a match with host China on June 9 before wrapping up the second round opposite Group A leader Syria.
The Philippines is currently level on points with China at seven points apiece, eight behind Syria. The Azkals, however, are in third place as the Chinese carry a superior goal difference.
A point behind in fourth is Maldives while Guam sits at the bottom of the table, having lost all five games.
The top team and possibly the second placer in the group advances to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers while securing a direct berth to the 2023 Asian Cup.
The third placer will be eliminated from World Cup contention but is assured of a place in the third round of the Asian Cup, along with maybe the fourth-placed team.