CHONBURI, Thailand — For the Philippine women’s football team, reaching the final of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games is not the destination. It is only the final checkpoint before the real objective.

The Filipinas have made it clear that their mission is singular — win the gold medal and finish the tournament on their own terms.

Team captain Hali Long emphasized that mindset after the semifinal, stressing that the squad arrived in Thailand with the intention of winning its final match of the competition, not merely breaking barriers.

From breakthrough to belief

The Filipinas’ rise has been built on steady belief rather than momentary success. Each milestone over the past few years has reinforced the team’s confidence that it belongs among the region’s elite.

That belief was forged long before this SEA Games run, highlighted by the squad’s historic FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in 2023. The experience accelerated the team’s growth and reshaped its expectations.

At this tournament, the Filipinas refused to let early adversity define them. Instead, they used setbacks as fuel, keeping their focus fixed on the end goal rather than the standings.

Finishing the job

Now standing opposite Vietnam in the gold medal match, the Philippines has an opportunity to complete its transformation from long-time regional outsider to champion.

Previously, the Filipinas’ best SEA Games finish was bronze, a result that once represented progress. This time, anything short of gold would feel incomplete given the team’s evolution.

Long, who reached her 100th international appearance during the tournament, described the journey as deeply personal and collective at the same time. For the Filipinas, the final is not about validation — it is about fulfillment.

As the decisive match approaches, the message inside the camp remains consistent: history is already written, but the mission is not yet finished.