MANILA---Filipino-Dutch midfield ace Jason De Jong completed his move to Indonesian club Persiba Balikpapan Tuesday, becoming the first Filipino player to join the Indonesian Super League.

The 20-year-old De Jong, whose contract with Dutch second division side Veendam was terminated last month, confirmed his signing with the club based in Borneo, Indonesia, in a message to the Inquirer yesterday.

Indonesian squads started taking notice of De Jong during the AFF Suzuki Cup, where the Azkals reached the semifinals, eventually losing to Indonesia.

De Jong, who started his career with Gloria UC before moving to NAC Breda and eventually landing at KV Turnhout in the Belgian second division, had trained with another ISL club, Sriwijaya FC, but was unable to sign with the squad because of contract issues.

De Jong’s move to the Indonesian club will not prevent him from suiting up with the Azkals, who are undergoing high-altitude training in Baguio City.

Although some of the members of the national team are tied up with European clubs, it marks the first time in eight years that a Filipino player signed with a Southeast Asian squad.

Former national team striker Freddie Gonzalez joined East Asia Commercial Bank in the Vietnam League in 2003 on the heels of his impressive stint in the Tiger Cup.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami welcomed De Jong’s move to the Indonesian club.

Meanwhile, Palami said Filipino-Danish recruits Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara have been granted Philippine passports.

“The Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and have determined that they are eligible by virtue of their lineage since their fathers were Filipino citizens at the time of their birth,” Palami said.

Cedelf Tupas, Phil. Daily Inquirer