“We salute our U16 youth team for bringing this honor to our country! Your victory brings not only pride and joy, but great hope to the young aspiring Filipino footballers from across our nation. Truly you have shown what a team can achieve with unity and solidarity. Mabuhay kayo!” declared PFF President John Gutierrez as the Philippines U16 boys’ national football team made history.
They secured their first-ever international championship by winning the 29th Lion City Cup, completing an undefeated run with a dominant 3-1 victory over Cambodia U16 on Sunday at Singapore’s Jalan Besar Stadium. The team defeated Singapore (2-0) and drew Hongkong (1-1) . They emerged as champions after Singapore defeated Hong Kong 4-1 in the final match.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Philippine football, as the U16 squad brought home the nation’s first international title in this age group. The team’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament showcased their developing talent and determination.
Aarran Long, whose mother is from Zamboanga City, was a standout performer, scoring two goals in the final match with his 2nd goal assisted by Filbert Tacardon. Long finished as the Philippines’ top scorer in the tournament with three goals. Francis Poticano also contributed a goal, helping seal the historic win. Leading the team and keeping everyone composed and focused was central back and Team Captain Alphan Lomibao.
In an interview with Singapore Strait Times, Long who was also recognized as player of the match against Cambodia, lamented how initial criticisms about their selection motivated the team. “There’s people on social media who were trying to speak bad about us and we had to clear that out of our minds and play to prove them wrong,” said the 16-year-old forward.“People from our home country (were) talking bad about players selected from specific areas and that it seemed unfair. It’s a dream come true to prove each and every single one of them wrong.”
The Philippines U16 finished atop the table with an impressive seven points, earned from two wins and one draw. Host nation Singapore U16 placed second with six points, securing a 4-1 win against bronze medalist Hong Kong U16 in the day’s other match.
The championship win is a testament to the PFF’s renewed focus on youth development , particularly after the Philippines U16’s winless campaign in the 2024 ASEAN U16 Championships in June 2024. Following that tournament, Gutierrez stated that “the lessons gained from this tournament will push the Federation to go full throttle in empowering the country’s football development for the youth and children as early as three years old.”
This commitment quickly yielded results. In October 2024, the Philippines U16 achieved a significant improvement, placing second in an AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers (ACQ) group for the first time. Their impressive run included a resounding 7-0 victory against Macau U16 and a breakthrough 2-0 win against Cambodia U16.
The Lion City Cup journey also saw the team avenge a 0-4 loss to Singapore U16 from 2024, securing a 2-0 opening day win with skillful goals from Joshua Moleje and Lawrence Binalong. They then drew 1-1 with Hong Kong, a team that had defeated powerhouses Jordan U16 and Syria U16 in last year’s ACQ, thanks to a crucial equalizer from Long and a penalty save by goalkeeper Jaime Sandejas.
The championship-winning national team was composed of a diverse group, bringing together top under-16 players scouted from all Regional Football Associations across the archipelago.
Many of these talented individuals had previously competed together, forming the core of last year’s U16 national team that participated in the ASEAN U16 Championships and the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers, as well as the squad that won the Thailand International Youth Cup.
Provincial players from RFAs were invited to join the team through the PFF’s talent identification program, spearheaded by PFF Talent ID Network scout Roman Oliver, a UEFA-A licensed coach. This initiative underscores the PFF’s commitment to scouting and developing talent nationwide.
Newly elected Davao de Oro RFA President Dennis Bugas even flew to Singapore to cheer for the team especially for his hometown talent Edgar Renopal Jr.
The team’s success was a collective effort, significantly bolstered by the unwavering support of the parents. They were instrumental in ensuring continuous training for the Center of Excellence (COE) players, pushing for international competition, and fostering team unity among all players, even handling crucial fundraising and logistics.
Guiding the U16 to this historic victory was Head Coach Tetsuya Tsuchida. As head of youth, Coach Tsuchida initiated the COE program in 2023, with many of the U16 players emerging from its inaugural batch, benefiting from continuous training under the NCRFA COE program through 2024 and 2025.
“A true strategist, he meticulously prepared for every game while planning ahead, ensuring players received adequate rest for peak performance. He showed immense trust in his entire roster, referring to his substitutes as “game changers”—a title they consistently earned. His instrumental role in team selection, meticulously choosing the best player for each position, also proved crucial, said team manager Miguel Gutierrez.
PFF also recognized the invaluable contributions of assistant coaches Richard Leyble, David Asare, Anthony Albao, Juven Francisco and PT Mayon Francia for their tireless efforts in guiding and supporting the team to glory.
“We thank and congratulate our coaching staff and team management,, as well as the parents and supporters who all worked hard for the success of this team. To the RFA’s where these players come from, congratulations too, this is your legacy. With you, we will continue to endeavor to discover more talented players from the various RFA’s who can join our national squads,” said PFF President John Gutierrez.