Kaya wallops UP to lead PWL; FEU gets 1st win

Kaya FC-Iloilo’s PFF Women’s League (PWL) title defense is off to a great start in the 2026 season, surging to its second straight win with a 7-1 rout of the University of the Philippines (UP) on Saturday at the Adidas Football Park in the SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

The near-namesake tandem of veteran Inday Tolentin and rookie Jay Tolentino scored in the first six minutes through the tremendous high pressing of their frontline alongside Player of the Match Alex Carpio.

Tolentin, who has scored multiple goals for both the women’s national futsal and football teams, fired an early lob in the third minute and completed her brace in the 19th minute.

Tolentino, turning pro in PWL after her college stint at Westcliff University in California, completed the season’s first hat-trick in the sixth, 48th, and 58th minute to tie Tolentin for the most goals in the season with four so far.

Carpio, who previously played for the Filipinas in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, scored in the 62nd of Tolentin’s assist from the high press while former national team player Camille Rodriguez finished the job in the 71st minute with a transition strike off Bhebhe Lemoran’s through pass.

Bem Aranas scored UP’s consolation with a worldie in the 38th minute to notch the Maroons’ first goal of the season.

“It’s really great to be able to play all of these college teams. They all play with different playing styles, all coached very well,” Carpio, who has 12 caps for the Filipinas, said after the game. “So parang chance for us din to learn how to adjust to different styles of play, especially going into [AFC Women’s] Champions League soon.”

In the second game, reigning four-peat UAAP champion Far Eastern University (FEU) has registered its first win with a decisive 2-0 shutdown of three-time PWL champion De La Salle University.

Led by Jessa Lehayan’s steady defense between the sticks, the Lady Tamaraws ended the first half with a lob from the far right by current PFF Futsaliga Most Valuable Player Lenlen Cristobal, who played in her first match of the 2026 PWL.

Substitute Jelani Pabuaya took the game home for FEU, running past the Lady Booters’ defensive line from near midfield to score in the 80th minute.

“Malaki yung adjust namin last Saturday match against sa Kaya,” Lehayan, Best Goalkeeper of UAAP Season 88, said, referring to their opening loss against Kaya FC-Iloilo last Saturday. “Kaya nag-work hard kami, paano bawiin ulit yung game namin.”

The Lady Tamaraws seek to build momentum as they next face UP in next Saturday’s nightcap while the Lady Booters try to recover against the Kaya powerhouse in the first game.

All PWL 2026 games are played in the Adidas Football Park in the rooftop of the SM Mall of Asia. Entrance is free. Livestream is on the PFF Women’s League Facebook account.