BAGO/VICTORIAS — The 2026 PFF U16-U19 National Boys’ Championships marked Labor Day with the third full slate of matches in Negros Occidental, delivering upsets, late drama, and two historic qualifications on a memorable third match day.
In the U16 Championship at the Manuel Y. Torres Sports Center in Bago City, Iloilo-Guimaras RFA (IGRFA) strengthened their grip on Group A while the hosts Negros Occidental RFA (NORFA) shook up Group B with a last-gasp winner.
In the U19 National Qualifiers in Victorias City, Olongapo City-Zambales FA (OCZFA) and South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos RFA (SOCSARGEN) punched their tickets to the National Finals, proving that hard work pays off.
U16: Caligdong nephew powers Iloilo-Guimaras past NCR
The day’s most anticipated match lived up to its billing. IGRFA met National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA) in the Group A summit clash, and it was IGRFA who delivered, winning 2-0 through a performance that blended youthful energy, tactical discipline, and outstanding goalkeeping from Wilson Muñoz, Jr.
Nathan Caligdong opened the scoring and was named Player of the Match for his explosive, direct play, while Stello Siloterio added the second to put the result beyond doubt.
Caligdong, 14 years old and the nephew of Philippine football legend Chieffy Caligdong, wore the occasion well. “Nakakapagod at binigyan kami ng magandang laro ng NCR,” he said after the final whistle. “Napakasaya namin na dahil nanalo kami sa best team sa Manila.”
The young midfielder’s composure and goalscoring instinct suggest the Caligdong name will be heard in Philippine football for years to come.
IGRFA now stand on the brink of a semifinal berth with a perfect nine points, and the football province of Iloilo once again reminded the country why it remains the heartbeat of the national game.
In the other Group A fixture, Mount Apo RFA (MARFA) finally opened their account, toppling an unsuspecting Zamboanga del Norte-Dipolog RFA (ZANDIRFA), 2-1, with two goals in the 24th and 25th minutes providing an early cushion that proved decisive. Between the sticks, Player of the Match Avery John Ubas was the difference, producing a string of sharp saves to deny ZANDIRFA an equalizer and hand MARFA their first three points of the championship.
Group B, meanwhile, was turned on its head by the hosts.
Negros Occidental Regional Football Association (NORFA) produced another late-game masterpiece, edging the previously unbeaten Golden Davao Regional Football Association (GODARFA), 1-0, through a corner set piece headed home by defender Cris Edward Tolimao deep into the match. It was a result that shook the Group B standings considerably.
Jhon Luke Libunao was equally vital for NORFA, keeping his teammates composed against a physical and combative GODARFA side that had led the group coming into the day. NORFA’s second win opens up what is now a wide-open race to the Group B semifinals, with multiple teams still in contention.
OCZFA recovered from their opening-day loss to GODARFA with a 3-1 win over Iligan-Lanao Regional Football Association (ILRFA). Player of the Match John Daniel Catbunton spearheaded the comeback with a brace after ILRFA had drawn first blood.
U19: OCZFA, SOCSARGEN seal National berths
The U19 group stages in Victorias City delivered the biggest news of the day — two teams clinching spots in the National Finals.
OCZFA continued their extraordinary run with a clinical 2-0 win over Cordillera Administrative Region Football Association (CARFA), courtesy of stoppage-time goals in both halves from Christian Bayog and Player of the Match Wilson Ballester. The result gave OCZFA a perfect nine points and top spot in Group B, confirming their place in the National Finals.
Their head coach Willie Jaypee Mendiola’s philosophy of ball possession, respect for every opponent, and collective ambition has produced the most dominant performance in the U19 group stage so far.
In Group A, South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos RFA overcame their draw against Laguna on April 30 to claim a decisive 3-1 win over Misamis Occidental-Ozamiz Football Association (MOOFA) and sneak into the National Finals with seven points.
Captain Mark Joshua Sedeng scored the crucial 73rd-minute goal that put the game out of reach, and he reflected with pride on how his side responded after their earlier stumble. “Sobrang ganda ng napakita namin,” he said. “Yung pagkakamali namin nung last game, naibawi namin ngayon.”
It was a mature response from a team whose high-octane offense — averaging more than three goals per game — makes them a dangerous prospect at the National Finals.
Laguna RFA also moved into contention in Group A after a late surge from Fritz Kenzo Chua powered them to a 3-0 win over MARFA, with Chua netting twice in the final minutes to claim top spot in Group A heading into the final group stage matches.
The nightcap in Group B was a heart-stopping encounter between Province of Bohol RFA and Davao South RFA, ending 1-1 after Ezekiel Romero rescued a point for DRFA with a goal in the 90+6th minute — cancelling out Xian Zachery Merico’s opener from the sixth minute in one of the most dramatic finishes of the entire competition.
The 2026 PFF U16-U19 National Boys’ Championships continues in Negros Occidental as both competitions build toward their decisive stages, with the U16 semifinals and the remaining U19 National Finals berths still to be determined.
