The Philippine National Men’s Floorball Team got their sweet revenge over Thailand, winning the gold medal match of the 2024 Asia Oceania Floorball Championship in a closely fought match, 6-5, at the Philsports Arena on Saturday.
Thailand was clearly favored in the championship match as it entered the AOFC Finals without a loss, even drubbing the Philippines in their group stage meeting, 8-3.
The Thais’ mastery of the Filipino team dates back to last year in Cambodia, where Thailand won the Southeast Asian Games gold and handed the Philippines the silver.
But the match on Saturday was different. The call from the Philippine Floorball Association was clear: Defend the home court! And a boisterous Filipino crowd was at the Philsports Arena to make sure the National Men’s Floorball team remembers that.
Defender Simon Sicat Larano started the slugfest, finding the back of the net at the 9:49 mark in the first of the three 20-minute periods. He scored another goal off an assist from his younger brother and fellow defender, Noah, at less than two minutes before the end of the second period to pull the Philippine even with the determined Thais, 3-3.
That early performance earned Sicat Larano player of the match honors for the Philippines, while his counterpart for Thailand is Pawat Thaidit.
Forward Lucas Werelius added two goals to the Philippine cause while Melvin Alm Mendoza and Kim Varga Franz, both playing forward, contributed one each.
The Philippine team now starts preparation for the World Floorball Championships scheduled in December from 7 to 15 of the month in Malmo, Sweden. AOFC runner-up Thailand and third placer Australia will join the Philippines as the three regional representatives at the WFC.
