The Philippine Boys’ National Football Team U16, propelled by their indomitable #SamaSama spirit, earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Hong Kong U16 on Friday. This pivotal result in their second matchday of the 2025 Lion City Cup in Singapore puts the Philippines U16 on track for its first-ever international podium finish, marking a significant milestone for Philippine youth football.
The standout performances of Jaime Sandejas, Filbert Tacardon, and Aarron Long were instrumental in earning this crucial point for the squad. “Tuloy ang laban boys! We commend the valiant performance of our U16 players. This deep squad, recruited from all over the country, shows the immense potential of the younger generation of Filipino footballers,” said PFF President John Gutierrez.
The Philippines started strong, with Manuel Enrique Simpao unleashing a powerful 30-yard shot in the first half, which was expertly saved by the Hong Kong goalkeeper.
The second half brought a moment of tension when team captain Alexander Peter Benedict Lomibao conceded a penalty for a handball inside the box. However, Sandejas rose to the occasion, making a nifty save to deny Hong Kong the opening goal. Despite the save, an unfazed Hong Kong U16 eventually found the back of the net in the 53rd minute with a close-range tap-in following a buildup from the left wing.
Undeterred, the Philippines U16 pressed on. Their persistence paid off in the 79th minute when Tacardon displayed remarkable strength, muscling past two defenders into the final third. He then delivered a precise assist to Long, who fired in the equalizer from 15 yards out.
This pivotal goal saw the Philippines draw level on four points at the top of the table with Hong Kong U16. Hong Kong is a formidable opponent, having defeated West Asian powerhouses Jordan and Syria in last year’s U16 Asian Cup Qualifiers and reaching the finals of the 2014 U16 Asian Cup.
“Winning a point against one of Asia’s best and our previous victory against one of Southeast Asia’s top teams are remarkable achievements, especially considering the humble beginnings of this batch,” Gutierrez stated. “We call on the Filipino community in Singapore to watch the finale on Sunday at the Jalan Besar Stadium, and to all Filipinos at home and around the world to pray for our boys’ success.”
The Philippines U16 will now compete for the 29th Lion City Cup crown on Sunday at 5 PM against an already eliminated Cambodia U16 squad. Previous winners of this prestigious tournament include youth teams from renowned clubs like Tottenham Hotspur U16 and Ajax U16.
