BAGO CITY – The final group stage fixtures of the inaugural 2026 PFF U16 National Boys’ Championship were completed on Monday at the Manuel Y. Torres Sports Center in Bago City, as the two rescheduled Group B matches — postponed Sunday due to a thunderstorm — delivered a historic result for Olongapo City-Zambales FA (OCZFA) and a commanding Group B title for hosts Negros Occidental RFA (NORFA). The four-team semifinal field is now complete.
Camiguin-Misamis Oriental RFA (CMORFA) gave their semifinal push everything they had, defeating Golden Davao RFA (GODARFA), 3-1, in a performance headlined by Cagayan de Oro’s Basti Ordinan, who scored a brace to bring his tournament tally to six goals.
Despite the spirited win, CMORFA fell one point short of the semifinals. Both CMORFA and GODARFA depart the inaugural championship as proud representatives of Mindanao’s rapidly growing football landscape, proof that the beautiful game is taking root across every corner of the Philippines.
The day’s defining result, however, belonged to Olongapo City-Zambales FA (OCZFA), who held Group B winners and hosts Negros Occidental RFA (NORFA) to a goalless draw to qualify for the Final Four by the margin of a single point.
Captain and Player of the Match Jared Sito was the embodiment of OCZFA’s disciplined, resolute defensive display, organizing his teammates, reading the game, and executing a tactical plan that NORFA’s potent attack could not crack. Central defenders Glenn Marc Yell and Euseb Ciprien Talan were also instrumental, blocking dangerous final third attacks from NORFA’s strikers in the second half and forcing offsides in the first half.
For OCZFA head coach Jerome Teope, the full-time whistle brought an outpouring of emotion that words could barely contain.
“For the first time, napunta yung OCZFA sa Final Four. History na po ito para sa amin,” he said. “Dati, isip lang namin. Dream lang ito eh. Pero ngayon, national stage. Hindi ko maipaliwanag yung naramdaman ko. Gusto ko umiyak.”
Teope credited a bold tactical gamble — starting substitutes to keep his key players fresh — and the collective sacrifice of everyone around the program for making the moment possible.
“Wala kaming pera. Wala kaming hawak na pera. Pero naisurvive kahit pa paano. Nagtulong-tulong. Maraming drama. Pero gawin na natin ito kasi first time ito na makarating tayo sa Nationals. Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga parents.”
NORFA head coach Francis Roy Bacuma, meanwhile, is keeping his focus squarely on Tuesday’s semifinal challenge.
“The team, NORFA, is ready to battle in the semifinal,” he said. “We saw their game — we are ready to face a strong NCRFA. My message to the Negrense: come here tomorrow for our semifinal game. We need your support.”
The semifinals are set for Tuesday at the Manuel Y. Torres Sports Center in Bago City. Group A winner Iloilo-Guimaras RFA will face OCZFA in the first semifinal at 6:30 AM, followed by Group B winner NORFA taking on NCRFA at 9:15 AM.
Football fans in Negros Occidental and across the country are invited to witness history as the inaugural PFF U16 National Boys’ Championship enters its most decisive stage. Admission is free and there will also be a free livestream on The Philippine Football Federation Facebook account.
