CEBUANO midfielder Valentino Calvo will don the country’s tri-colors in the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this August.
The 22-year-old former Don Bosco Technological Center (DBTC) player who now plays for De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will be the lone Cebuano in the 20-man team of the Philippine Football Federation’s (PFF) for the men’s football event of the SEA Games.
Calvo will be joined by Christian Lapas, Daniel Bernan Gadia, Dimitri Lionel Limbo, Dylan Alain Lucienne De Bruycker, Jaime Vicenzo Cheng, Jordan Blair Jarvis, Javier Augustine Gayoso, Jeremiah Raphael Rocha, Julian Mariano Clarino, Junnell Bautista, Kuo Ichi Belgira, Nathanael Villanueva, Nimrod Balabat, Ray Joseph Joyel, Rey Franco dela Torre, Reymart Cubon, Roberto Corsame Jr, Richard Talaroc Jr. and Yoshiharu Koizumi.
“Of course it’s a big privilege for me to be able to represent the country. It’s always a great honor. I just want to contribute in making our fellow countrymen and my fellow Cebuanos proud,” Calvo told Cebu Daily News.
Calvo has already represented the national team in international tournaments as he played for the under-19 and under-23 teams. He also played for the Philippine Azkals in July last year against Australia’s Perth Glory in a friendly match held in Ilocos Sur.