‘I could’ve had two more’: Filipinas’ hat trick hero Sarina Bolden stays hungry

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Sarina Bolden Filipinas AFF Women's Championship

Sarina Bolden celebrates after scoring against Indonesia in the AFF Women’s Championship at Rizal Memorial Stadium. PFF PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Sarina Bolden felt she could have done more after producing a second career hat trick in the 4-1 win over Indonesia that sealed the Philippines’ place in the semifinals of the Asean Football Federation Women’s Championship.

Bolden was the star of the second-half onslaught which enabled the Filipinas to complete their comeback from a goal down at halftime and secure their fourth win in four matches to stay on top of Group A.

But Bolden also took note of some of the misses that only made her thirst for more.

“I could have had two more, five, six or seven,” Bolden said in the post-match interview. “But I’m happy with the ones that I did finish and hungry for the ones I missed.”

The 26-year-old equaled the feat in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games when she fired three in the Philippines’ 5-0 win over Malaysia at the Binan Football Stadium in Laguna.

Her latest trifecta made it five goals in Bolden’s account in the regional championship, a tally that came amid high standards being placed by coach Alen Stajcic.

“I put a little bit of pressure on her to be our leading goalscorer,” said Stajcic. “She’s our No. 9 (main striker), she is our talisman and I think she’s a fantastic contributor to our team.

“And I think she’s got so much more in the tank. She can really be one of the world-class players within our group if she keeps working hard and she keeps on improving,” Stajcic added.