Stark letters stood out from a brightly lit screen with the kind of message sophomore Emerinne Denina had dreamed of seeing. “Congratulations,” the email began, confirming Denina was officially on the list for the Philippine Women’s National Team Identification camp, a dream she’s been working towards even before watching the team play in the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand.
Denina’s soccer journey began in first grade, when her mom suggested she try out for her elementary school team. From the team’s pursuit of a common goal to the close bonds formed through the sport, soccer hooked her from the beginning.
Her path with MVHS Varsity Head Coach Stephen Liu began at age 12, when she attended tryouts for his team at De Anza Force Soccer Club. According to Stephen, Denina stood out with her effort and focus despite her smaller stature.
“At 12 years old, the future is unwritten in terms of how fast and big you’re going to be,” Stephen said. “A lot of it has to do with the attitude they bring when they show up, because it’s not the player they are right now, but the player they’re going to become that really matters to a coach like me. One of the first things that I saw in her was definitely just 100% effort. You could tell she was invested.”
However, despite Denina’s passion for the sport, her journey wasn’t always filled with victories and fulfillment. Two years ago, while playing club soccer, she found herself struggling both physically and mentally, as the pressure to perform began to chip away at her confidence and playing time.
“It felt like I was constantly failing,” Denina said. “I always tried to hype myself up before games, but when I got in, I would not perform at my best, and it cost my team a lot as well. Eventually I started having less playing time, and that was a really big moment for me, where I needed to step back, reset myself and see what was going on both physically and mentally.”
When club season ended and the MVHS season began, Denina found the reset she needed through a fresh start in the new environment. The habits she had already been building throughout the club season began to shine through in her consistency and focus.
“Being surrounded by a new set of girls, I was able to reset myself and play in a different environment,” Denina said. “I was able to gain a lot of my confidence back that I lost and then I came back to club with even more confidence than before.”
Denina’s work ethic also stood out to freshman teammate Keira Liu, who first met Denina four years ago at club tryouts. Keira finds that, as opposed to playing for her own glory, Denina plays for the good of her team — her teamwork as well as her passion for soccer is contagious to the people around her.
Denina first learned about the Philippine Women’s Under 17 National Team Talent Identification camp through Instagram, where the team advertised its U.S. tryouts. The camp, held in Irvine, California from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, brought together players with Filipino heritage from across the country for evaluation and potential selection into the national team pool. It also prepares the players for the Asian Football Confederation U17 Women’s Asian Cup and eventual U17 Women’s World Cup.
After contacting them, she received a call a few minutes later asking about her background and qualifications as a player. A few days later came an email requesting forms and highlight reels, and eventually Denina received her official invitation to attend the camp. When the news broke, her teammates were thrilled at the idea of Denina stepping onto a national stage.
“I was super happy and so proud,” Keira said. “I’m happy that she got the opportunity to show her ability at a higher level and also share the joy of soccer with people she relates to culturally.”
For Denina, the invitation meant more than just another opportunity. When she watched the World Cup, she met many of the Philippines team’s players, including striker Serena Bolden, who particularly stood out to her. At the camp, Denina saw Bolden again, this time not just as a fan, but as an aspiring player sharing the same space, a full-circle moment that she found especially inspiring.
Denina also noticed the sense of community among players at the camp, many of whom had traveled from across the country and shared the same heritage and love for soccer.
“I’ve never seen that many Filipino girls who play soccer in one place before,” Denina said. “It was really eye opening, like wow, there’s all these other girls here that are like me and play soccer.”
Off the field, Stephen notes Denina’s attitude makes her memorable. Her dedication and willingness to take on challenges have shaped her growth as a player.
“I find that players who use setbacks as fuel right to get on to the next moment are the healthiest and most successful in terms of their approach to the game,” Liu said. “I think it shows a deep appreciation that any problems can be solved with hard work. That is something I would remember Emy for.”
Looking ahead, Denina hopes to continue moving up in team level in club soccer while beginning the college recruiting process. Her advice to younger players reflects the mindset that has carried her this far.
“The best way to pick yourself up from a low moment is to find the confidence in yourself again,” Denina said. “And if you want to continue your skills as a player, keep practicing, especially on your own.”
