Revolution II winger Alex Monis has become accustomed to the long journey required to represent the Philippines in international football—20 hours each way. Despite the exhaustive travel, Monis remains unwavering in his commitment to the national team, seeing every moment as worth the effort.
Monis’ first opportunity to represent the Philippines came in May of last year, after a standout season with New England’s second team, where he emerged as one of the top scorers. Born in Downers Grove, Illinois, Monis’ connection to the Philippines stems from his father’s side. While he has always felt connected to his Filipino roots, he describes his recent experiences with the national team as a profound connection to his heritage.
“Joining the Philippines has really brought me closer to my roots,” Monis shared. “While I was already in touch with my Filipino side, being in the country, surrounded by the language, the food, and the culture, has deeply strengthened my bond.”
In his most recent call-up, Monis played an instrumental role in helping the Philippine National Team achieve a historic victory over Thailand in the ASEAN Championship semifinals. The win, a 1-0 triumph in the first leg, marked the Philippines’ first victory over Thailand in 52 years.
“We definitely overachieved in the tournament,” Monis said. “People didn’t expect us to make it to the semifinals, and Thailand is one of the top teams in Southeast Asia. Going into the first leg at home, we played well and earned the win, which was exciting for us as a team and the entire country.”
The victory resonated deeply, not just within the team but also across the Philippines, a country traditionally more passionate about basketball than football. Monis expressed how the win sparked a renewed sense of national pride in the sport.
“It felt like a resurgence of football in the Philippines,” he said. “The people started getting behind us because they saw that we could compete at a high level. Although we didn’t make it to the final, it was still a huge achievement. Being part of that spark, seeing the excitement and energy around the team, was an incredible feeling.”
To commemorate the historic win and the deepening of his cultural ties, Monis took a personal step to honor his Filipino heritage. After the tournament, he researched and found a tattoo artist to design a Filipino tribal tattoo that features the sun from the Philippines flag, accompanied by intricate symbols that hold personal meaning for him.
“Getting my first tattoo was a big decision, but it now serves as a testament to my Filipino roots and the impact we’ve had with the team,” Monis said. “It represents the pride I feel in both my culture and the role we’ve played in elevating football in the Philippines.”
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