Kaya’s Miguel Tanton: From Outsider to Starter
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for Kaya’s Miguel Tanton. After playing a central role in the club’s back-to-back wins in the AFC Cup, the midfielder went on to make his first appearance for the Philippine National Team.
Brought in as a late addition for the country’s final World Cup Qualifying match, the 26-year-old Kaya standout not only earned his first cap, but played the full 90 minutes in the dramatic 3–2 victory over DPR Korea. Having been regularly overlooked for the national team in recent months, his performance reflected the ability his teammates and supporters have always known he could bring to the table.
“The call up was unexpected,” he said after the dust had settled from his first involvement with the Azkals.
“Besides my club, I’m not entirely sure people knew if I was Filipino. Thanks to Louis Clark’s (teammate) social media presence and the ultras (Kaya’s supporters) getting involved, word may have reached the right ears. The idea of starting never really came to mind, I was just happy to be there. I did have my fingers crossed I would see some time, though.”
Tanton not only got the time he was hoping for, he was slotted straight into the starting lineup by Philippines head coach Thomas Dooley. And it was his back heel that set up Manny Ott for the spectacular equalizer late in the game. All in all, it was an impressive debut on the international stage, against a country in DPR Korea that holds World Cup experience.
But Miguel’s attention must now switch from National Team success back to pressing club matters, with Kaya set to face rivals, Loyola Meralco Sparks, in the UFL Cup quarterfinals.
“Our match on Saturday is against a team we know well,” he said.
Success on the April 2 (8:15 p.m. kickoff) encounter at the Rizal Memorial Stadium would be the perfect end to what has been Miguel Tanton’s thrilling introduction to the rest of the Philippines.
