Confident Dov Cariño ready for SEAG action with PMNFT U-22

c/o UAAP

Ateneo de Manila University midfielder Dov Cariño is on a mission: to help the Philippine Men’s Under-23 National Team finally secure a gold medal at this month’s 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. 

Already seasoned from competing in major regional tournaments like the 32nd SEA Games and the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024, Cariño is determined to turn the country’s long-standing near-misses into triumph.

Cariño, who has netted five goals for the Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament, praised the squad’s atmosphere and training quality, highlighting the players’ readiness for the challenge ahead.

“Preparations for the SEA Games have been great. Training has been top quality, and the squad’s morale is very positive,” said the 21-year-old standout. 

“The goal of the U-23 team this SEA Games is definitely to go home with gold. We believe that we have the capacity to do so, and anything less would be disappointing.”

It’s been a whirlwind few months for Cariño, who has been a consistent presence in international U-23 competitions such as the ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup 2025 and the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, all while fulfilling his commitments with Ateneo.

As the Blue Eagles’ captain, he has steered the team to fourth in the standings, keeping them on track for a Final Four appearance when Season 88 resumes next month. Off the pitch, Cariño also balances his academic responsibilities while attending the national team’s training camp.

“Playing in UAAP this year has helped me get physically and mentally ready for these international tournaments,” said Cariño.

“The intensity of the games has helped me get in shape to represent the country and given me a chance to work on parts of my game that needed improvement."

Fortunately, Cariño’s packed schedule has been manageable. 

“Luckily, none of the three commitments clash. We played our last UAAP game just before camp started,” he shared. 

“Academically, I’ve still been able to study for and take my finals to the best of my abilities. I’m making sure everything is on track in school while focusing on preparing for the SEA Games.”

The U-23 men’s division has yet to see the Philippines reach the podium despite numerous attempts. Cariño is confident this batch of players can break the streak.

Personally, he’s ready to give everything to make it happen.

“I will give the team my all when I get the chance to play,” he said. 

“I want to leave the field knowing I’ve done everything I could. Every game, I’ll play with the mindset that I’ve given my absolute best.”

Philippines maintains tenuous lead in AFC Asian Cup Qualifying

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine men’s national football team (PMNFT) successfully completed a tense sweep of ASEAN neighbor Timor-Leste, winning its home leg, 3-1, on match day 4 of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers (ACQ) at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac on Tuesday.

The team bounced back big in the second half, scoring three goals after trailing by one in the first half.

“It was a completely different game after we scored and I think that we deserved the three points at the end,” said Philippine head coach Carles Cuadrat.

“At the moment it was hard in the first half but I am really proud of the group. We have a big mentality here and I am really proud that we could bounce back from this first half,” added PMNFT’s top forward Bjorn Kristensen, who won his second straight Player of the Match.

After misses from Jefferson Tabinas and Andre Leipold that grazed the goal in the first half, Timor-Leste found its offensive groove and scored its third goal in the past three games, with England-based winger Joao Rangel lobbing the goal from the top left area of the penalty box in the first half injury time.

But the Philippines immediately regrouped and recovered after the halftime break as Tabinas scored off the set piece in the 46th minute, with Sandro Reyes delivering the assist from a right corner kick.

As Timor-Leste dodged several Philippine shots in the ensuing plays, the visitors had a chance at regaining the lead but Marques de Carvalho skied his clear shot in front of goal in the 69th minute.

PMNFT instantly punished that miss, with Kristensen, who hauled four goals in the October 9 game, scoring the go-ahead in the 70th minute off a clinical right-wing link-up with the returning Gerritt Holtmann and assist-passer Jesper Nyholm.

Substitute forward Jarvey Gayoso then scored the finisher in the 90+1 minute off a Randy Schneider set piece for his fourth international goal for the senior squad.

Timor-Leste head coach Ze Pedro commended the Philippines, saying, “I stated right away, I’ve already analyzed the Maldives, I’ve already analyzed Tajikistan, I’ve already analyzed the Philippines, the teams that are part of our group, and I identified before the two games that the Philippines were the strongest team in the group and I continue to say that they are.”

Indeed, PMNFT remains on top of the ACQ Group A with ten points and with a +2 goal difference advantage over Tajikistan.

After absorbing two losses in the October window, both Timor-Leste and Maldives are eliminated from Asian Cup contention.

PMNFT will next face Maldives in Male on November 18 for the penultimate game, before vying for the Asian Cup finals versus Tajikistan in March 2026.

Anito stars in FEU triumph over UE

c/o UAAP

Women's Matches on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium
4 p.m. - DLSU vs UP
6:30 p.m. - UST vs Ateneo

Rookie Jerby Anito stepped up for defending champion Far Eastern University in a 2-0 victory over the University of the East in the ongoing UAAP Season 88 Men’s Football Tournament on Thursday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.

The homegrown midfielder broke the deadlock in the 48th minute, slotting in his second goal of the season after Czam Acuesta’s initial attempt failed to reach the back of the net.

Anito continued his stellar performance just seven minutes later, setting up the Tamaraws’ second goal with a perfect ball inside the box that Theo Libarnes headed past UE keeper Chrisjohn Tambilawan.

With the win, FEU forced a triple tie on top of the table with the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University, all holding seven points and a goal difference of +3. The Fighting Maroons were scheduled to play later in the evening.

“I think we dominated and controlled the game today,” said FEU head coach Jake Murallo. "From the first half medyo nahirapan kami, pero sa second half nakuha namin 'yung play namin at nakapag-adjust naman kami.

"Ang daming player na wala—our two red cards—and some players like Mon Diansuy nagkasakit, so very proud ako kay Jet Fabrigas sa unang clean sheet niya."

("I think we dominated and controlled the game today from the first half despite our struggles. In the second half, we got to execute our plays and we were able to adjust. We're shorthanded due to suspensions, and some players like Mon Diansuy were not feeling well. So, I'm proud of Jetrick Fabrigas on his clean sheet.")

Both teams struggled to break the deadlock in the first half, with neither side managing to convert chances into a goal.

FEU had a promising sequence in the 21st minute, but the attack fizzled out before UE could clear the ball.

The Tamaraws, however, found their rhythm in the second half, converting their relentless pressure into two decisive goals to seal the win.

On the other hand, UE had its share of opportunities through Bernard Magallon and Francis Maturan, but FEU goalkeeper Jet Fabrigas stood tall—most notably stopping Maturan’s rocket attempt in the 63rd minute.

The Red Warriors remain rooted at the bottom of the standings with zero points and a -6 goal difference.

FEU will next face Ateneo on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the same venue, while UE will wrap up its first-round campaign against the University of Santo Tomas (5 pts, 0 GD) on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

UP, La Salle battle to goalless deadlock

c/o UAAP

Women's Matches on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Field
4 p.m. - Ateneo vs UST
6:30 p.m. - FEU vs DLSU

De La Salle University held tournament leader University of the Philippines to a goalless stalemate in the first round of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament on Thursday at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub here.

Anchored by the defense of rookie defender Bacchus Ekberg and goalkeeper Edcel Lauron, the Green Booters successfully stifled the Fighting Maroons’ vaunted attack line. With the draw, La Salle climbed to third place with four points and a goal difference of 0, just behind the University of Santo Tomas Golden Booters on goal difference.

Ekberg nearly delivered the breakthrough for La Salle on a counterattack, but his cross inside the box in the 57th minute went straight to UP keeper Fonzy Gonzalez.

"We know that UP is a strong team, but we're here to play. We just did our best to win na even though most of my players are new, but when they follow the gameplan, the instructions, we can win this game. So, we prepared for this because we know how they play, and we somehow succeeded," said newly installed head coach Richard Leyble.

La Salle will next face archrival Ateneo on Sunday when the action shifts to the UP Football Stadium at 4 p.m.

On the other hand, the result was far from flattering for the Fighting Maroons, who nevertheless kept their hold on the top spot with seven points and a +3 goal difference.

Both sides had promising moments from the wings, with UP’s Cian Galsim and Jian Caraig creating chances, but Lauron calmly dealt with every attempt that came his way.

Florenz Tacardon came closest to breaking the deadlock for UP, but his shot late in the second half also went straight into the hands of the La Salle keeper.

"We just have to go back in training and work on our decision-making better inside the field. They should make the right decisions depending on the situation and just enjoy the game," said UP head coach Popoy Clarino.

The Fighting Maroons return to their home pitch next Thursday, October 9, at 6:30 p.m., where they look to get back on track against Adamson.

Full UAAP statement on UE-Ateneo Men's Football incident

c/o UAAP

Following the University of the East and Ateneo de Manila University match in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament last Sunday at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, the UAAP Disciplinary Committee has imposed sanctions on those involved in the incident, in accordance with the PFF Disciplinary Code.

The match, which ended in a 4-3 victory for UE, was marred by controversy after the Red Warriors left the pitch following the Blue Eagles’ third goal while the game was still ongoing.

Although UE eventually returned to complete stoppage time, their walkout triggered a series of altercations involving both teams and some spectators at the venue.

As a result, the UAAP Disciplinary Committee has penalized UE with a deduction of three points in the league table.

This sanction is grounded in Article 30 of the PFF Disciplinary Code—Deduction of Points—which allows for the removal of points in current or future PFF competitions.
The Committee determined that UE’s actions breached the values of discipline, respect, and fair play that the league upholds.

UE head coach Frank Muescan has been handed a one-match suspension, to be served in the Red Warriors’ next game against Adamson University this Thursday at Vermosa.

He will also face further investigation, as it was he who ordered his players to leave the pitch and head to the dugout.

Two UE players received multiple-match bans for their involvement in the incident.

Defender Mark Maghinay was suspended for four matches after assaulting a linesman and provoking the crowd. Fellow defender Christian Tio was given a two-match ban for pushing Ateneo strength and conditioning coach Dox Delos Reyes from behind, an act deemed a serious violation of athlete conduct standards.

On the Ateneo side, Blue Eagles head coach JP Merida was sanctioned for verbally lashing out at Commissioner Rely San Agustin during the commotion.

He will serve a touchline ban in Ateneo’s upcoming game against the University of Santo Tomas, also on Thursday at Vermosa.

In addition, an unidentified member of the UE delegation—wearing a ‘Gala’ #20 Blue Manila Montet jersey—has been banned from entering both the Vermosa and UP Diliman Football Stadiums.

The individual was caught by Ayala Vermosa Sports Director Hans-Peter Smit locking the dugout gate on the fourth official, who was attempting to speak with the UE team during their walkout. The stadium ban will take effect immediately, beginning with the next match.

These sanctions were determined after a thorough review of officiating decisions, disciplinary considerations, reinforcement of match-day protocols, and the implementation of stricter crowd control measures.

The UAAP also acknowledged concerns raised about the officiating during the game.

In partnership with the PFF, referee performances will continue to be evaluated through a structured, developmental process.

The league reiterated its commitment to raising the standard of officiating, emphasizing that the goal is not only to ensure consistency but also to exceed expectations in high-stakes matches for the benefit of teams, student-athletes, and fans alike.

Injury time goal secures La Salle's triumph

c/o UAAP

Women's Matches on Saturday at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub
4 p.m. - UP vs DLSU
6:30 p.m. - Ateneo vs FEU

Lucas Aguilar drilled in a late winner to give De La Salle University its first victory of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Football Tournament, edging University of the East, 1-0, Thursday at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub here.

Just as the match seemed headed for a goalless stalemate, the second-generation student-athlete broke the deadlock in the second minute of added time, handing the Green Booters their first win under new head coach Richard Leyble.

The result lifted De La Salle to three points with a goal difference of 0, joining Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, and University of the Philippines at the top of the table.

"We started slow because some of the players didn’t follow the plan," said Leyble, the former Davao Aguilas FC mentor in the Philippines Football League who succeeded Alvin Ocampo at the helm. "But all in all, they played well. Everybody played well. Everybody didn’t give up. They just played and won this game.

"Now, we were lucky. We were sensing that UE was the one to win in this case, but fortunately, we got the first goal."

De La Salle had to survive several scares early, as UE pressed hard in the opening half.

Eldrin Madrid found the back of the net in the fourth minute, only for the goal to be nullified due to an offside call.

Skipper John Bernard Magallon also came close, while Keith Hermoso repeatedly created danger with his deliveries into the Green Booters’ box.

Strong stops from starting goalkeeper Edcel Lauron and substitute Jason Salvante proved pivotal, keeping De La Salle afloat until it could seize its chance.

Aguilar also had an earlier attempt waved off for offside but made up for it late in the match.

Off a set-piece opportunity, Sebastian Fronda picked out Aguilar lurking inside the box.

With perfect timing, Fronda delivered the ball, and Aguilar blasted it past Chrisjan Tambilawan for the decisive strike.

That goal sealed De La Salle’s first triumph of the season.

The Green Booters will look to build momentum when they face UP next Thursday, October 2, at 2 p.m. on the same Imus pitch.

It was a frustrating defeat for UE, which dominated large stretches of the match—particularly in the first half—but failed to find the back of the net for the second straight outing.

The Red Warriors, now with two losses and a minus-2 goal difference, will try to bounce back against Ateneo on Sunday at 4 p.m.

PFF adds ex-El Salvador gaffer, La Liga standout to PMNFT staff

via the Philippine Football Federation

The Philippines, with hopes and aspirations of trying to return to the AFC Asian Cup, have provided current mentor Carles Cuadrat with additional assistance.

On Wednesday, the Philippines announced that they are tapping two coaches to join Cuadrat in his staff, with fellow Spaniards Albert Roca and Dimas Delgado bolstering their preparations for the upcoming October matches against Timor Leste.

In making the appointments, federation president John Gutierrez says, "With Albert Roca and Dimas Delgado joining Coach Carles Cuadrat on our national team’s coaching staff, we are reinforcing PFF’s commitment to world-class coaching and player development. Their experience, tactical expertise, and shared vision with Coach Carles Cuadrat will be invaluable as we aim to elevate the Philippines’ performance in the Asian Cup Qualifiers, with our aim to re-enter the main tournament."

Roca and Delgado are very much familiar with Cuadrat, having worked alongside each other previously across the world.

The former has been serving in a variety of roles worldwide since 1997, most notably for his stint as the manager of El Salvador a decade ago. He also has served as an assistant to Frank Rikjaard in his respective responsibilities with Saudi Arabia, as well as in his club managing responsibilities earlier this century at FC Barcelona and Galatasaray SK.

He first worked with Cuadrat at the Turkish side before working alongside him in both El Salvador and Saudi Arabia, before collaborating in India with Bengaluru FC.

With these two in tow, the Super League side became the first Indian side to reach a continental final when Bengaluru pulled off the feat at the 2016 AFC Cup. The next year, they claimed the Federation Cup and managed to reach the final of Indian Super League.

Roca departed in 2018 to return to Barcelona to be Ronald Koeman's fitness coach at the Catalan side, setting the stage for Cuadrat to take over and lead Bengaluru to the 2018 Indian Super League title.

The 62-year-old made a return to Bengaluru in 2023 to serve as a technical consultant.

Delgado, on the other hand, played professional football for over a couple of decades, most notably serving as the captain of Barcelona B during Pep Guardiola'S first year as a coach, scoring ten goals that campaign. The 42-year-old also has top flight experience, making twenty appearances for then-La Liga Primera Division side CD Numancia in 2008. He also played over two hundred fixtures in the Segunda Division, whether in Numancia, Huelva, and Cartagena.

A move to Australia followed, with Delgado serving as captain for the Western Sydney Wanderers from 2015-17, a side then managed by Tony Popovic, who is now serving as the gaffer for the Socceroos.

He then joined Bengaluru FC, where he was coached by both Roca and Cuadrat until 2021, and was its captain in 2018.

Delgado would play a final year back home in Spain at CF Montanesa in 2023, before starting his coaching career under Cuadrat at East Bengal FC, where they helped lead the side to the Indian Super Cup title last year.

The three Spaniards are now tasked to get the Philippines ready for its two matches against Timor Leste in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, traveling first to Darwin, Australia on October 9 before going back to New Clark City on October 14 for the final home leg of the PMNFT in the competition.

Gutierrez expressed confidence that the team will benefit from these additions. He notes, "PFF is focused on pushing Philippine football to a forward trajectory. The gains we have accumulated from 2024 will not be put to waste; we will ensure incremental progress of our football programs because we are very eager to build the Philippines as a strong football force in Southeast Asia and beyond."

Launch of new facilities highlight UAAP opener at Vermosa, women's action resumes Wednesday

c/o UAAP

Women's Matches today at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub

4 p.m. — UP vs FEU
6:30 p.m. — DLSU vs UST

Already one of the country’s premier sports and recreational centers, the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite, has inaugurated new facilities designed to enhance the experience of athletes, teams, and fans alike.

Just before the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament opened with a clash between archrivals De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University, a ceremony was held on Saturday afternoon to bless and showcase the hub’s new grandstand and player dugouts.

“It is my pleasure to greet everyone here today as we celebrate this remarkable milestone: the inauguration of our newly enhanced facilities during UAAP Season 88,” said Nona Torres, Senior Project Development Head.

“We are excited to unveil key improvements to our sports hub, including the brand-new grandstand and dugouts. Our bleachers now comfortably and safely accommodate 1,200 spectators, providing excellent views for an electrifying game-day experience.

“The locker rooms have been thoughtfully upgraded with modern showers, changing areas, recovery zones, and secure storage—offering athletes a comfortable and functional space to prepare and recover. These enhancements perfectly reflect Vermosa’s commitment to being a premier environment for sports excellence and well-being.”

The Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub now joins the list of venues that have hosted UAAP football over the past decade, including Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, the PFF National Training Center at Carmona, the UP Diliman Football Stadium, Circulo Verde, the FEU-Diliman turf, and Moro Lorenzo Field inside the Ateneo de Manila University, all of which are located in Quezon City, and the McKinley Hill Football Stadium in Taguig.

For UAAP Football Tournament Commissioner Rely San Agustin, adding another venue reflects both the growth of the competition and its role in developing local sports.

“Having the UAAP community be the first to experience these upgrades is truly a source of pride,” said San Agustin. “We believe these enhancements will foster even deeper engagement, passion, and support for football and sports in general here at Vermosa.

“This is a testament to Vermosa’s vision of being a world-class hub that nurtures athletes at all levels—from grassroots to elite—and promotes an active and dynamic lifestyle.

“I want to congratulate Vermosa, the teams competing this season, and especially the pioneering women’s squads from Ateneo and De La Salle. May this tournament be a platform for showcasing skill, teamwork, respect, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.”

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony and blessing, the action saw the Lady Booters from Taft eke out a 1-0 victory over the Blue Eagles, followed by the University of Santo Tomas pulling off the same scoreline against the University of the Philippines.

The next day saw the men take to the pitch to start off their season, with Ateneo taking a 3-0 win over Adamson, UP nipping the University of the East, 1-0, and UST securing a 2-1 triumph over La Salle.

Action is set to resume in the next couple of days, with Far Eastern University making their collegiate debut to kickstart their respective title defenses.

The Lady Tamaraws will face UP at 4pm, followed by Saturday's winners in La Salle and UST seeking to position themselves into the early lead at 630pm.

As for their male counterparts, they are set to tango also against UP at 7pm on Thursday as the final game of a tripleheader, with La Salle and UE kicking things off at 2pm, followed by UST and Adamson at 430pm.

UST stymies La Salle in football opener

c/o UAAP

University of Santo Tomas rode a strong first-half performance to secure a 2-1 victory over De La Salle University in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament on Sunday at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub here.

Golden Booters midfielder CJ Songalia opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a long-range strike that beat Green Booters goalkeeper Edcel James Lauron. Kyler Escobar then doubled UST’s lead in the 42nd minute with a composed finish.

Songalia nearly claimed a brace for UST, but his second-half penalty—awarded for a handball in the La Salle box—was denied by Lauron, who was part of the Junior Golden Booters squad that won the Season 87 boys’ high school crown.

After starting the season on a winning note, UST will next face Adamson University this Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Vermosa.

“Commendable first half from the boys. They played really well,” said Golden Booters coach Marjo Allado, who enjoyed double wins in both the women’s and men’s divisions this opening weekend.

“But in the second half, it was scary because we collapsed a bit. After that penalty save by La Salle, they got the momentum to score an equalizer. Overall, though, the players’ fighting spirit was there.”

Meanwhile, La Salle proved to be a tough challenge under new coach Richard Leyble.

Rookie forward James Sibla appeared to score the Green Booters’ equalizer after Songalia’s opener, but the effort was ruled offside.

Sophomore striker Lukie Aguilar was a constant threat, hitting the crossbar early in the second half and later forcing an own goal by Sam Alegre in the 83rd minute—though it came too late to change the outcome.

La Salle will look to rebound against the University of the East this Thursday at 2 p.m., also at Vermosa.

UP overcomes suspensions in nipping UE for its opener

c/o UAAP Media Team

Sans its head coach and two key players, the University of the Philippines kicked off its UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the resilient University of the East on Sunday at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub here.

Ramil Bation III, who scored seven goals for the Fighting Maroons last season, opened his account for the campaign with a 39th-minute header off a set-piece, giving UP some breathing room against UE.

“It was a good goal,” said assistant coach Ojay Clarino, who deputized for his older brother Popoy due to the latter’s touchline ban following last year’s altercation with Far Eastern University in the Season 87 semifinals.

“Also, it was a good delivery from Cian Galsim. As long as the ball is delivered well, we have players inside who can capitalize.”

Trailing by a goal, UE struggled to convert its possession into scoring opportunities.

The Red Warriors struck the post moments after Bation’s goal, and the second half saw them launch a series of tentative shots and entries into the Fighting Maroons’ box, but nothing came of it—even with two UP players down on the pitch.

In the seven minutes of added time, UE substitute Edmar Adonis had a free kick that UP goalkeeper Alfonso Gonzalez handled easily.

UE had one last chance to equalize in the dying moments, but a cross from the right flank was not met by any Red Warrior and was cleared for a corner.

Gonzalez then secured the ball in the ensuing play, ensuring that UP held on for the narrow victory.

Aside from head coach Popoy Clarino, Charles Lobitaña and Eric Mink Cachuella were also absent due to their involvement in last year’s incident against the Tamaraws.

UP will next face FEU on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the same Cavite venue, in a rematch of last year’s semifinal clash.

With two perennial championship contenders set to collide, Ojay Clarino emphasized that the Fighting Maroons are not seeking revenge but are focused on securing three points to maintain their winning start.

“Maybe for the players it feels like revenge, but we’re focusing on one game at a time,” he said.

“The goal is to correct our mistakes and improve as a team as the season progresses.”

Meanwhile, UE will look to bounce back against De La Salle University in Thursday’s 2 p.m. kickoff at Vermosa.

Agyei brace highlights return to college football at Ateneo

c/o UAAP

Dov Cariño orchestrated the play while Kofi Agyei made a triumphant return as Ateneo de Manila University cruised past Adamson University, 3-0, in the opener of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament on Sunday at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub here.

Agyei, who missed last season due to a combination of injury and academic commitments, marked his comeback with a brace in his first game back for the Blue Eagles.

The Ghanaian forward calmly opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a clinical finish off Cariño’s defense-splitting pass, then headed home his second goal in the 82nd minute to seal the win.

Sandwiched between Agyei’s two strikes, Cariño — a national U23 standout and newly appointed team captain — also found the back of the net with a stunning free kick that beat Falcons goalkeeper Sean Chua in the 64th minute, doubling Ateneo’s lead.

For coach JP Merida, seeing his dynamic duo combine so effectively in the season opener is an encouraging sign for the Blue Eagles’ campaign.

“Going into this game, I was confident that both of them would combine,” said the three-time champion mentor. “My idea was that they would score. In my view, I thought Dov would have scored the first goal, but of course, Kofi did well. We’re happy because Dov and Kofi’s combination upfront is amazing. It’s a good start for us.”

Ateneo will continue its campaign on Sunday when it faces University of the East at 4 p.m. at the same Imus venue.

Meanwhile, Adamson was left to rue missed opportunities that could have altered the game’s outcome. The Soaring Falcons created chaos in the Blue Eagles’ box, culminating in a goal-line clearance by Ateneo midfielder Marcus Arias.

Roberto Roldan and Cameroonian winger Golike Dany Doko also had chances on goal, but neither could find the back of the net.

Adamson will look to bounce back against University of Santo Tomas this Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Vermosa.

UAAP announces suspensions for its college football opener

c/o UAAP

When the collegiate football divisions of UAAP Season 88 kick off their matches this weekend at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite, some student-athletes will have to sit out their teams’ opening games as they serve suspensions incurred at the tail end of Season 87.

The University of the Philippines will begin its redemption tour with two Maroons and its head coach unavailable for its opener against the University of the East this Sunday at the same Imus venue.

Coach Popoy Clarino, along with players Charles Lobitaña and Eric Mink Cachuella, will miss the action as they serve suspensions stemming from an altercation with the FEU Tamaraws during the Final Four clash between the two squads in Season 87.

To recall, the Fighting Maroons and the Tamaraws engaged in a melee after Clarino charged toward FEU’s bench following an individual duel over a loose ball between UP’s Florenz Tacardon and FEU’s RJ Pescadera.

Cachuella will serve a two-game suspension, while Clarino and Lobitaña will each sit out one match.

Meanwhile, Jaymark Hernan of UE and Ivan Clyde Francisco of Adamson University will also miss their schools’ opening matches due to carry-over double yellow card suspensions. Hernan will be absent against UP, while Francisco will not be in contention against Season 87 finalist Ateneo de Manila University.

In the women’s division, three players will sit out opening-day action to serve one-game suspensions.

Ateneo’s Rae Mikella Tolentino and University of Santo Tomas’ Jannah Marie Santerva will miss their matches against De La Salle University and UP, respectively, due to a second yellow card received last season.

Meanwhile, UP’s Patricia Ann Espinosa will be out against UST, also serving a double yellow card suspension.

Far Eastern University, the women's holders, drew an opening-day bye.

Thailand outlasts the Philippines to advance into AMEC final

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippines were inches away from dethroning Thailand in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024, and just minutes away from forcing penalties. But a dramatic Suphanat Mueanta goal deep in extra time put an end to the Filipinos’ Cinderella run in the competition.

“First, I’d like to congratulate Thailand on making the final. Second, I’m very proud of my players. We will come back stronger, I can promise you that. We came here to Thailand and we played against them face-to-face until the last minute,” said Head Coach Albert Capellas after the grueling 120-minute affair at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

Entering the match with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, the Philippines started the contest full of confidence, able to dictate the game in front of the vibrant 31,000 in attendance. Jarvey Gayoso came close to a deserved opener, but his effort was denied by a goal-line clearance.

The seven-time champions eventually wrestled control as the half wore on, and found a breakthrough through captain Peeradol Chamratsamee in the 38th minute, who fired in the opener from a tight angle. That lead was doubled eight minutes after the break, with Patrik Gustavsson tucking away a well placed through ball.

Behind 3-2 on aggregate at that stage, the Philippines needed to find a goal to stay in the tie. They found that lifeline through Bjorn Kristensen, who fired in a beautiful low curling strike from outside of the box to restore parity in the tie. The Filipinos even went on to almost snatch another goal that would’ve sent the team through to the final.

From a dangerous cross in to the box, Amani Aguinaldo’s header forced a good stop from the keeper. The resulting rebound was fired unto the underside of the crossbar, with a third attempt struck goal wards, but deflected out for a corner kick. That unconverted scramble meant the match went into extra-time where Muenta’s heroics at the death ensured the Thais returned to the final.

“I think we played good in the first 20 minutes, and in the last 20 minutes. In the first half of extra time it was an equal game, but in the last 10 minutes we suffered. We couldn’t put pressure on the ball anymore and we allowed too many crosses. Next time we will learn from that lesson and we will come back stronger,” said Capellas, who finished the tournament with a record of two wins, three draws, and one loss. “We just arrived at this level. For a lot of years we couldn’t play these type of games — to fight until the last second against Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam. It’s the first time we are here after a lot of years. We have to learn from this experience. Thailand has been there a lot of years. For this generation of players, this is the first time. All I can promise is that we’ll learn from this and we’ll become stronger.”

Reflecting on a grueling campaign where the team played six games in 18 days, the Spanish tactician couldn’t help but feel a change is needed for future editions of the tournament.

“The competition I think has to be organized in a different way. Our players were completely destroyed physically. We have to take care of the players. They need more rest time in between games. This is not respect for the game, this is not respect to the players,” he said.

He also took time to thank all the support the team garnered over the last few weeks, including the over 10,000 that witnessed the Philippines beat Thailand at the Rizal Memorial Stadium just a few days ago.

“I hope all the Filipinos are proud and that they enjoyed [the efforts of] our squad. They fought a lot. And I hope we get the support from the federation, the government, and from people who love football, to help us grow football in the Philippines, so we’ll have more games like this,” he said. “Thank you very much to all the Filipinos, not only in the Philippines, but around the world. Now we have to move to the next level. We have to have a more powerful league. We have to develop the youth football. We need to invest, and we will come back stronger. We will work very hard to make it happen.”

“Now we know we can do it. We have a very bright future for the National Team of the Philippines for the next few years,” he concluded. The Philippine Men’s National Team will next see action in March, when the campaign to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup begins.

Philippines at cusp of historic moment in AMEC

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippines is one match away from making a first ever appearance in the final of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup. Having made history by beating Thailand in Manila in the first leg, the Filipinos take a slim 2-1 advantage heading into Monday’s 9:00PM (PST) match at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok. The winner on aggregate after both legs will go through to face either Vietnam or Singapore in the final.

“I think it’ll be a very equal 200 minutes. I know that it’s about two games. We have to perform good again tomorrow if we want to go to the final. We know that we can make it difficult for Thailand. We have watched the [previous] game, we have made some adjustments to try to come here and make a good performance for our fans, our federation, and for our players, to show that we are making steps forward. We will try to reach the final for sure,” said head coach Albert Capellas.

Michael Kempter, who stepped out with the captain’s armband in the first leg, is under no illusions about the gravity of the task ahead and is expecting that the team will need to dig deep once again to overcome the seven-time champions.

“We know that Thailand is a very good team. We are very prepared for the game. We’re going to fight until the end like in Manila,” said Kempter. “We’re here to reach the finals. We believe in ourselves. We’re not done yet, the job’s not done. We’re here to make history for our country.”

Thailand are no strangers to overturning first-leg deficits, having successfully overcome a few en route to Southeast Asian supremacy. With their home fans behind them, Thai player Chalermsak Akkee suggested that the Filipinos’ tears of joy in Manila would turn into tears of agony on Monday night.

“There is no sport in the world that moves people more than football — maybe music, but not in sport. That’s why the fans now are starting to feel the hope. Tomorrow we will perform, and I’m sure our fans will not cry. They will feel very proud no matter if we win, if we draw, or we lose. I’m sure they will feel very proud,” said Albert Capellas in response.

A draw or a win for the Philippines will guarantee passage into the final, which will be played over two legs as well. Tonight's match will be aired LIVE on Matchday.ph.

Philippines claims home leg of AMEC semifinal

c/o Philippine Football Federation

In front of a boisterous Rizal Memorial Stadium crowd, the Philippine Men’s National Football Team made history on Friday night, defeating Thailand, 2-1, to seal the team’s first ever semifinal win in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup, and a first victory in 52 years over the regional powerhouse. The win was sealed in dramatic fashion, with a last minute goal that ensured the Filipinos take the advantage heading into the second leg in Bangkok.

“I’m very happy for all the supporters, all the fans. I’m very happy for the players because they never give up. We played a very good 35-40 minutes against a very good team,” said Albert Capellas after the match. “In the second half we suffered more, conceded attempts that we shouldn’t have. But we handled it together. We never lost the hope because this team — they’re fighters, they believe — they fight so much for this country. I’m so proud for them. In the end I think we got what we deserved. I’m very happy.”

The Philippines got off to strong start, putting Thailand on the back-foot by keeping possession well and moving the ball quickly. 20 minutes into the contest, Sandro Reyes fired in a left-footed wonder strike to give the Philippines a deserved lead. The visitors responded right before the break though, with Suphanan Bureerat finishing off a counter attack to give Thailand a lifeline.

With a foot back into the game, the Thais emerged from the second half inspired, mounting numerous attacks that led to clear-cut opportunities. But after enduring a difficult half of pressure, the Filipinos dramatically turned the match around in the final minute. From a Zico Bailey free kick, Paul Tabinas cushioned the ball to Kike Linares for the game-winning goal.

“We knew how to suffer, we suffered the entire group stage,” said Man of the Match Sandro Reyes. “I think the group stage was a perfect practice for today because we suffered a lot, but we found a way to go through all those hurdles. We went through hell and we came out. Today was the same. The end of the first half, until the end of the game I think Thailand had plenty of chances. They were putting pressure on us. We couldn’t keep the ball. We were very tired. But we got out of hell and scored the last minute goal. The fans were amazing. They were with us until the end.”

“Since I started playing football at age four, Thailand has always been the team to beat. They’ve always been the strongest in Southeast Asia, so to beat them shows how far we’ve come,” he continued. “But the job isn’t even halfway done. We’ve got a very difficult job in the second leg coming up and we want to play a final here, so we’ll give everything to get that final here.”

Ecstatic about the historic win, Coach Albert Capellas believes there’s still plenty more to come from the Philippine Men’s National Football Team.

"I’m very happy for everyone who’s making a lot of effort inside of the federation — Freddy [Gonzalez], Mikkel [Paris], and all of the staff. You cannot imagine how much they work for this team. They need all the support from everybody because this is just the beginning, and we want to get better and better.”

The Philippines will look to seal the country’s first ever appearance in the competition’s final, when they will play Thailand in Bangkok on Monday, December 30, at 9:00PM.

Philippines ready for home leg of AMEC Semifinal

c/o Philippine Football Federation

Back in the semi-finals of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup for the first time in six years, the Philippine Men’s National Football Team is eager to get off to a strong start in their two-legged tie versus regional powerhouse Thailand. The first match will be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Friday night, December 27, 9PM, with the second leg to be played in Bangkok on the 30th.

Up against seven-time champions of ASEAN’s biggest stage, and a team ranked 53 places higher in the FIFA rankings, Philippine Head Coach Albert Capellas sees no reason to change the approach that got his team to the knockout rounds.

“It’s nice to be here again, it means we’ve qualified for the semi-finals. It’s very nice to see all of you again, and to have the chance to play two more good games,” said Capellas. “We have this rule that the most important game is the next game, and we won’t change that. We always prepare the games believing we can win. We know that Thailand is a very strong opponent, but we’ll attack with the s

ame mentality. This is the way that we’ve prepared for this game — exactly the same as all the other games.”

Bjorn Kristensen’s goal in front of 17,000 Indonesians was what sealed passage for the Filipinos into the semi-finals. The young striker is no stranger to Thailand, having opened his goal scoring account for the Philippines against Friday’s opponent a couple months ago.

“It will be a good game against a strong opponent. It’s what we live for, to play against good teams. Hopefully we can get the win in the first leg, and the hopefully the second leg also,” said Kristensen, scorer of two goals so far in this tournament.

The Filipinos will be without the services of Amani Aguinaldo due to suspension, as well as Patrick Reichelt, who recently announced his retirement from international football. The team will welcome back Santi Rublico, though, who bolsters the team’s options in attack.

“In this tournament we’re experts in finding the balance. It’s one of the keys of why we’re here today. We had to find the balance of the minutes we deliver to every player. Every player who got the chance delivered their best,” said Capellas, before adding, “Alone we cannot achieve anything, together we can achieve a lot of things. One of the strong parts of this group, is the belief that they have — they do everything together — and the effort that they make in every game. That means with or without Amani [and Patrick], that will not change.”

“With Santi, he could only join us if we made it to the semi-final stage and I’m very happy that the club allowed him to join us. He knows all the players, knows the system, and knows me very well. He has the same chances as everyone else to get minutes.”

Tickets to the Filipinos’ clash with Thailand are available on Ticketmax.ph. The game will be aired LIVE matchday.ph and on PTV Sports.

Philippines secures AMEC semifinal spot

c/o Philippine Football Federation

Winless yet undefeated coming in to the Manahan Stadium, the Philippine men’s national football team (PMNFT) proved to Southeast Asia its winning mettle, scoring an all-important 1-0 victory over Indonesia and booking a semis ticket to close the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup Group B competitions on Saturday in Surakarta.

The win marks the return of the Philippines to the ASEAN home-and-away semis, which it last achieved in 2018. The team will next face defending champion Thailand on December 27 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium (RMS).

This also marks the Philippines’ first win against Indonesia since 2014 and the first ever on Indonesian soil.

“I can’t begin to describe how I feel right now. It’s like, it’s just nice to be back. Nice to be back where we belong in the semifinals and the job’s not done yet,” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Director for National Teams Freddy Gonzalez.

“We played four games in nine days, so everyone was gassed, but these guys really dug deep and, you know, pulled off an amazing victory today that brought us back to the semifinals,” Gonzalez, a national team striker in the ’90s, added.

The Philippines’ patience in building up for the goal and weathering Indonesia’s intense attacks on their side paid off when Paul Tabinas earned a penalty, forcing a handball on Dony Tri Pamungkas to earn Bjorn Kristensen the winning goal in the 63rd minute.

The glorious goal came after a flurry of shots on goal by Indonesia starting in the latter part of the first half, backstopped by speedster Marcelino Ferdinan, who had three shots on goal saved by replacement keeper Quincy Kammeraad and one that hit the woodwork.

The Indonesian momentum came to a halt when skipper Muhammad Ferrari was booked for a red card for elbowing fellow skipper Amani Aguinaldo in the 43rd minute, limiting Indonesia to ten men throughout the match.

Kristensen had the final say of the first half with a header in front of goal that was saved by Cahya Supriadi.

Early in the second half, Hokky Brilliant and Achmad Syarif stepped up on offense but their shots were saved by Kammeraad.

After Kristensen’s goal, it was the Philippines’ turn to step on the gas, with substitute Uriel Dalapo released for a running strike that was saved by Supriadi in the 75th minute, while a similar counter by Jarvey Gayoso in the 85th minute was blocked by Muhammad Hannan.

The Philippines held the fort on defense despite 14 minutes of added time as Kammeraad had the last laugh, saving the outside shot on target by late sub Ronaldo Joybera, Jr.

“This is very emotional for us. There are no words,” said Aguinaldo who, alongside starting keeper Patrick Deyto, was part of the 2018 squad. “I am very happy to be part of this team, of this squad that has faced much difficulty from the past.”

“I think the coach told us today the last few games luck hasn’t been on our side and I think us as a team we created our luck today and this is something the country has been needing for a long time and this is just for the team and for the country and everybody,” said Man of the Match Kammeraad, who replaced an injured Patrick Deyto in the 4th minute.

The Philippines has not won against Thailand in head-to-head history and has only drawn twice.

In last October’s King’s Cup, PMNFT figured in a rain-soaked 1-3 loss against the world number 97, with Kristensen scoring his first international goal.

“I hope… we will have our fans behind at home. We will need them. We need full stadium and we will try to do our best to beat Thailand,” encouraged PMNFT head coach Albert Capellas, who is on his debut ASEAN Championship.

Philippine to give its all in final AMEC group stage matchup

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team’s hopes of progress into the semi-finals of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 hangs in the balance on Saturday night, when they face Indonesia, 9PM PST, at the Manahan Stadium. After three straight draws, nothing less than victory in Surakarta will be enough to give the Filipinos passage into the next round.

“We have played four games in a row with only two days in between [each match]. I think this is a disadvantage, but of course we will not use this as an excuse. Tomorrow we will perform. I know my players, I know they will deliver 100%,” said Head Coach Albert Capellas. “We will come here tomorrow to try to win the game. We need to win the game if we want to have a chance to qualify. I think we’re facing a very good team who are playing at home, in front of a big and passionate audience. It’s a team that we have to play very well against if we want to have a chance to beat them.”

Echoing Capellas’ thoughts, Sandro Reyes, who has been key figure in the Philippines’ midfield, believes that despite the grueling schedule, his teammates will be ready to perform at the level required.

“It’s difficult to understand how a tournament can be played with four games in 12 days, but like coach said we’re not using this as an excuse All of the players are fit, ready, no injuries. Everyone is excited and energized to give more than 100% tomorrow,” said Reyes.

In order to qualify for the semi-finals, the Philippines not only need to win on Saturday night, but Group B leaders Vietnam must not lose in their match versus Myanmar, which will be held simultaneously.

The Filipinos clash with Indonesia will be aired LIVE on One Sports, One Sports+, and on Matchday.ph. It will also be available on a delayed basis on the Philippine Men’s National Football Team Facebook Page, and on Pilipinas Live.

Philippines keeps AMEC semifinal hopes alive with draw against Vietnam

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine men's national football team's (PMNFT) third Group B fixture in 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup (AMEC) has resulted in another draw, 1-1, versus outright semifinalist Vietnam on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

This was the first point the Philippines has scored from Vietnam since the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, where the Philippines won, 1-0, courtesy of a Chieffy Caligdong late goal.

PMNFT has since lost six games against the ASEAN powerhouse until Wednesday's draw.

Homegrown star Jarvey Gayoso came from his wedding last weekend to electrify the Filipino crowd with his patented left-footed bomb in the 68th minute for the lead.

Scoring on his third international goal, the shot was built up by an Amani Aguinaldo long ball, targeting Javier Mariona, who headed the ball to Gayoso.

That could have been a 2-0 score for the Philippines as in the first half stoppage time, Bjorn Kristensen scored after being released by fellow Fil-Norwegian Adrian Ugelvik on the break but the starting forward was called for an offensive foul on his body-to-body with Viet Anh Bui Hoang, disallowing the goal.

"Today was a different game. Today was a 50-50 game. It was more of a battle," remarked national team coach Albert Capellas.

"We have to keep longer ball possession because when we put five passes between lines, we shouldn't have lost, if we could do that on the last five-seven minutes, we shouldn't have lost. But we are tired, the team was so tired, but they gave whatever they can," Capellas explained, alluding to his team's third game in seven days, which included travel to and from Vientiane.

Ngoc Tan Doan ultimately scored the upset goal in the 90+7 mark, finding an opening by crouching low to head in the right corner inswing.

When asked about conceding three goals from set pieces, Capellas responded: "I never will blame a player for a mistake. Never. All of them they have my hundred percent support. A player who does not play is a player who does not commit a mistake. Football is a game of mistakes."

"It's nothing about set pieces. It's about respecting the players who play," Capellas asserted.

For his part, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Anthony Gutierrez expressed his full support for the team.

"As I've said on Tuesday, this will be a 50-50 game. This has not been the case against Vietnam since our peak years in terms of world ranking. Now that we are coming in at world number 149, it is astounding for us not only to draw against Vietnam, but to battle them possession by possession," Gutierrez said, pertaining to the possession share per official match report.

"We have to give credit to the coaching staff for that excellent second half adjustment that resulted in our goal. I also want to express my support for our homegrown keeper Patrick Deyto for those crucial saves that could have resulted in our elimination had he not played excellently," Gutierrez continued.

Hope is not lost for PMNFT (3 points) as it will head to Solo, in a must-win game against idle group runner-up and home team Indonesia (4 points).

The Philippines should also hope for at least a draw between Vietnam (7 points) and Myanmar (4 points) to advance.

Philippines ready for Vietnam test in AMEC action

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team is gearing up to take on their biggest test in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 campaign, when they take on Vietnam on Wednesday night, 9:00PM, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The two-time champions and pre-tournament favorites currently hold top spot in Group B, and enter the contest fresh from victory over Indonesia.

“We are really looking forward to play against Vietnam - a good team. They are leading the group and from my point of view is the strongest team in the group and the team to beat. Tomorrow we have a fantastic opportunity to prove to ourselves that we’re able to beat these kinds of teams,” said Head Coach Albert Capellas

The Philippines drew their first two matches against Myanmar and Laos, and are now looking to utilize the energy of the home support to carry them against the Southeast Asian giants.

“We got two points in our first two matches, but we’re still very much alive in this tournament. We respect Vietnam, they’re a good team and viewed as favorites in this tournament, but we’re going to give a good fight and go for the three points,” said Alex Monis.

Tickets to the match are available at Ticketmax.ph. The game will also be aired LIVE on One Sports, One Sports+, and on Matchday.ph. It will also be available on a delayed basis on the Philippine Men’s National Football Team Facebook Page, and on Pilipinas Live.