Philippine Football Federation member club Kaya FC-Iloilo earned its third straight PFF Women’s League (PWL) title, matching De La Salle University as the most decorated team in league history with a perfect seven-game sweep of the 2026 season, capped by a 2-0 finale versus runner-up Far Eastern University (FEU) in the finale last Tuesday at the Adidas Football Park in Pasay City.
Philippine Women’s National Football team standout Alex Carpio stamped her most valuable player caliber with a brace against the Lady Tamaraws–scoring off a chest receive and booting the ball in the goal from Janly Fontamillas’ right cross in the 40th minute, followed by a runner from midfield past Kristine Dela Peña to seal the trophy in the 86th minute.
“Sobrang grateful naming lahat,” Carpio, an important part of the Filipinas SEA Games gold medal and World Cup-clinching Asian Cup squads in the past eight months, said. “Gusto naming magpasalamat sa FEU, sa La Salle, sa UP, sa competition na binigay sa’min, na binigay sa amin week after week.”
This was seconded by first time AWCL champion coach David Basa, who said that while Kaya has been preparing hard for their upcoming international sojourn, he emphasized that his club “never took [PWL] for granted.”
“Every game is a hard fought game and I’m happy for the players for winning the title,” said the former men’s national team defender.
Kaya, currently in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) preliminary stage from August 17 to 23, secured all 21 points of the 2026 PWL, scoring a whopping 32 goals.
The Lady Tamaraws, three-time winner of the PFF Women’s Cup and reigning four-time champion of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, was at a distant second with 12 points.
In the awarding ceremony presented by PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez, PFF Executive Committee Woman Representative Belay Fernando, and NCRFA President Miguel Gutierrez, Carpio was awarded the MVP plum, joining Filipinas greats Hali Long, Shelah Cadag, and Sara Castañeda in the roster of PWL MVPs.
Inday Tolentin, a veteran of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup for the Filipina5, won the Golden Boot with eight goals; teammate Saki Yoshida of Japan won Best Defender; while FEU standouts Sarahgen Tulabing (also a Filipina5 member) and Jessa Lehayan won Best Midfielder and Best Goalkeeper, respectively.
Kaya will vie to continue its splendid season in the upcoming AWCL–their second stint in Asia’s biggest women’s club competition–opening the preliminary stage against host FC Ilbirs on August 17 at 6 PM (Philippine time). They will be joined by Tulabing, La Salle standouts Maegan Alforque, Dani Tanjangco and Jessica Pido, Filipinas fullback Janae DeFazio, and US national women’s beach soccer player Marissa Vasquez.
“Dadalhin namin yung mga natutunan namin when we go to Champions League on Thursday and continue to use everything we learned para makapagpakita ng magandang laban sa AWCL,” Carpio said.
Meanwhile, La Salle and the University of the Philippines will tussle for third place on August 15, 5 PM, at the Adidas Football Park.
