Hali Long (5) in action with the Philippine women's national football team against Thailand in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 14, 2025 at the Chonburi Stadium. PFF-PWNFT via POC Media
Hali Long's latest milestone with the Philippine women's national football team proved to be memorable in more ways than one.
The veteran defender started in the Filipinas' semifinal showdown against Thailand in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games -- her 100th cap for flag and country since making her national team debut in 2016.
It would turn out to be a historic victory. The Filipinas defeated Thailand in penalties, 4-2, to advance to the gold medal match of the SEA Games for the first time ever. Long buried the final kick for the Philippines, before Waeengoen Orapin sent her attempt over the bar to spell heartbreak for the host nation.
READ: Filipinas beat Thailand in thriller, to play for gold medal
"Our goal was to win our final game, and we plan to do that," said Long afterward. "Yes, there's stuff to always work on after a game, but, right now, we're just gonna enjoy this feeling that we've never had."
This is not the first time that Long has led the Philippines to a historic victory while also claiming a personal milestone. In 2022, she won her 61st cap -- tying a team record -- then helped the Filipinas beat Thailand, 3-0, in the final of the AFF Women's Championship.
It was the first time that the Philippines had lifted a major trophy, and they got the job done on home soil. Afterward, Long said she will "keep going until I can."
"I'll push for a hundred [caps]," Long said at the time.
READ: Hali Long vows to keep going after tying PH record for int'l appearances
Three years later, Long has set a new record for appearances with the Filipinas -- with more on the way.
The skipper was not entirely satisfied with her performance: she had committed an error that led to Thailand's Jiraporn Mongkoldee scoring in the 53rd minute.
"We kind of fumbled my 100th a little bit, a few times," she admitted.
She made up for that miscue the rest of the way, however, and the Filipinas equalized late after Jael Guy buried a penalty off a Thailand handball inside the box.
They then held their nerve in a tense penalty shootout, with Guy, Alessandrea Carpio, and Sara Eggesvik all converting their spot kicks before Long squeezed her attempt past Thailand goal-keeper Sodchuen Thichanan.
Afterward, the center-back turned to Filipinas goal-keeper Olivia McDaniel with a big smile.
"I'm at least at a 100 now. It's an unreal feeling that I've come this far and watching this team grow, develop, change, shift… It's something I wouldn't trade for the world and I couldn't have done it without my teammates who have been there every second of the way and I'm really grateful for them," said Long.
The Philippine women's national football team celebrates after beating Thailand in the semifinal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 14, 2025 in Chonburi. PFF-PWNFT via POC Media
The 30-year-old defender has endured her fair share of heartbreaks with the Philippine team -- including a heartbreaking loss to Myanmar on home soil in the bronze medal match in the 2019 SEA Games -- but has also been at the forefront of their biggest success.
Long was the co-captain of the Filipinas when they qualified to the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time ever, and went on to lead the team on the field in New Zealand in 2023.
Now, she and the national team has a chance to write more history for Philippine sports.
"Everyone that's been there, all the management that have come and gone, that have watched my journey, watched me play, my family, we have one last game to go and we're going to end this tournament on a win," she said.
"It'll be tough," Long acknowledged. "Vietnam is the reigning champions and we beat them in group, so I know they're gonna be coming for us and we're gonna be even harder to break down this time around."
The Filipinas had stunned Vietnam, 1-0, when they played in the group stage -- a win that revived their hopes of making the knockout stage after a heartbreaking 1-2 loss to Myanmar in their first game.
"We're not tired," said Long. "We're hungry, we want it. It's a first time feeling for us, and a familiar feeling for Vietnam."