By Terrence Voon

THERE were smiles and tears aplenty as the Philippines team taking part in the Asian Youth Games (AYG) football competition were released from quarantine at the Aloha Loyang Resorts on Friday morning.

All 20 members of the squad left the holiday chalets at 8am, marking the end of a seven-day ordeal which began last Saturday when one of their teammates tested positive for the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

They were greeted by their parents and local sports officials, who staged a surprise for the boys by arriving on the same bus which was to ferry them from the resort.

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