Central Visayas Football Association (CVFA) edged Negros Occidental Regional Football Association (NORFA), 2-1 to win the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) U19 Boys National Championship Division 1 on Monday evening, June 10, 2024, at the Dynamic Herb- Borromeo Sports Complex in Talisay City, Cebu.
In the match dubbed as the “Visayas Finale,” both teams remained scoreless at the 60th minute, until a foul on CVFA’s Charles Cliff Ventura led to a penalty kick converted by Carsten Pumareja at the 62nd minute.
At around the 73:48 mark, NORFA’s Kent John Pareñas scored the equalizer. But at the 76th minute, Charles Cliff Ventura added to CVFA’s score. No further goals were made in the last 15 + 8 minutes; full time: 2-1 in favor of CVFA.
In the battle for third held earlier in the day, Panay Football Association (Panay FA) defeated the National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA), 3-1 with goals by Vincent Ardeloso and Novie Christian Paraiso in the 78th minute and 86th minute, respectively, and one penalty kick by Neo Gian de la Peña in the 90 + 1 minute. NCRFA’s lone goal was courtesy of Gian Carlo Lucha.
This marked Panay FA’s third consecutive year as the U19 Boys National Division 1 second placer since it achieved the same feat in 2022 and 2023.
NORFA’s Franz Noel Servias was named Top Goal Scorer. CVFA received four awards: Edgar Paredes III was chosen as Best Defender, Eugene Christian Molleno was chosen as Best Goalkeeper, and Carsten Pumareja was named Best Midfielder. Pumareja was also hailed as the Championship MVP.
Lovely Mae Tababa, Head of Competitions of the PFF Executive Committe, thanked all the participants of the U19 National Boys Championship Division 1 and praised their talent. She said, “This competition shows us that we have skillful young players who were developed and are playing locally. The future is bright and we are looking forward to providing more such competitions to showcase our youth players– both male and female players.”
