AFTER becoming the newest toast of Southeast Asian women’s football, the Philippines is already looking forward to bigger challenges in its build-up to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.

“Last night we climbed a small little hill in conquering Southeast Asia and there are mountains ahead.”

said coach Alen Stajcic during yesterday’s press conference.

Before a roaring crowd of 8,257 that packed the fabled Rizal Memorial Stadium, the Filipinas topped Thailand, 3-0, to annex their first-ever crown in the AFF Women’s Championship in one memorable Sunday night to remember.

The triumph gave the Philippines more milestones in women’s football this year, as the team earlier captured the bronze medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games and made a historic semifinal run in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup that paved the way for the country’s first-ever World Cup qualification.

“It was a magnificent occasion last night,” said Stajcic, who was appointed to the post last October. “Football has come to life.”

All the sacrifices that the Filipinas made in the two-week competition has paid off. The Philippines won all but one of its seven matches, including a stunning 4-0 semifinal win over holders Vietnam.

“Together as a group is fantastic,” said Stajcic. “It is privilege to be around with this group.”

“It’s unbelievable. It is a monumental occasion for our country,” the former Australia national coach added.

Skipper Tahnai Annis, the glue that stuck the Philippines together, is thankful and grateful for the chance to play in front of a boisterous crowd that lifted the team’s spirits.

“On behalf of all of us, I know that everyone is just so honored to be able to have the opportunity to represent the country. We’re so happy that we could do it on home soil last night.” said Annis.

The Filipinas will be back in action in the next FIFA international window, as Stajcic is planning to bring the team in North America by September or October.

“We are very inexperienced. We have to fast-track,” said Stajcic. “We have to play a lot of matches as much as we can.”

With the FIFA Women’s World Cup cast slowly taking shape, goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel, who produced clean sheets against the Vietnamese and the Thais in the semifinal and final, does not matter where the country will be grouped in the world’s biggest football showcase.

“No matter who we get, it will be a challenge. It will be a tough opponent,” said McDaniel. “We want the best so we can become better, so bring it on.”

The Filipinas – together with the country’s football community that waited for this moment – are still savoring the championship.

“We all lived to the moment as long as we could,” said defender Hali Long, whose first-half header against Vietnam jumpstarted the rout.