MANILA, Philippines – Azkals team manager Dan Palami is hopeful that the national football team's qualification to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup sparks another "football revolution" in the Philippines, similar to what the "Miracle in Hanoi" did eight years ago.

The Philippine Azkals made history last week when they defeated Tajikistan, 2-1, to secure their first-ever appearance to the continental tournament, ending years of heartbreak.

"It's been a long journey for the Azkals, and finally, after that miracle in Hanoi, we have this," Palami said at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday.

Palami was referring to the Azkals' remarkable triumph over Vietnam at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi during the 2010 Suzuki Cup – the victory that first brought the men's football team to national attention and sparked interest in the sport in the basketball-crazed Philippines.

• READ: Palami hopes Azkals' win sparks another football revolution

But their qualification to the Asian Cup is "another level," according to Palami.

"We felt na after a long while, nag-plateau," he said. "So now, we feel like this is a different level that we're in."

Palami feels that their emotional victory last week at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium brought the Azkals back to the national spotlight.

The next step, according to the team manager, is consistency. Their appearance in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup should not be a one-time event; instead, it should be the start of the Philippines' continuous rise in the Asian football scene.

"We're happy to be representing the country in the elite football stage in Asia," said Palami. "We've always felt that the Filipinos belong in this stage of football, which is one tier away from the World Cup."

"The fact that we're here, somehow, it's really an achievement," he added. "I hope it breaks down this particular barrier."

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