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| Crocs FC. Photo c/o Dave Mendiola on his Facebook page |
Crocs FC Davao showed their class in the inaugural edition of the LALIGA Youth Tournament in the Philippines, which saw almost 1400 kids participate at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium last October 18-20.
The team from Mindanao secured the crown in three of the five categories: the Under-8, Under-10, and Under-12. The Under-14 title went to Total FC, while La Salle-Zobel's White team topped the Under-16 category.
Crocs would defeat Ciudad FC in the final of the U8, Paulstiga Soccer Academy in the U10, and Kaya FC Academy in U12 to bring pride to their brand of football.
Finishing in the podium of the three youngest categories are Makati FC (U8), G8 Academy (U10), and CFA (U12).
Calamba-based Total FC defeated Malaya FC for their crown, while the Junior Archers dispatched Paulstiga SA with theirs.
Serving as third place teams in these two divisions are the RMC Bulldogs (U14) and the Azkals Development Academy (U16).
To make it an enjoyable and fulfilling experience for everyone involved, LALIGA and its co-organizers Epic Management and RSA1 Group also set up a few more additional competitions within these categories, with the following teams claiming podium finishes:
U8
Plate: Total FC (Champion), G8 Academy (2nd), Aspire Football Academy (3rd)
U10
Plate: Kaya FC Academy (Champion), Total FC (2nd), Bella Football Academy (3rd)
Bowl: Ciudad FC (Champion), Nemesis Football Academy (2nd), Forza FC (3rd)
U12
Plate: La Salle-Zobel (Champion), CIFA (2nd), Ilocos United FC (3rd)
Bowl: Perpetual FC (Champion), Malaysia-based Old KK Junior (2nd), Nemesis Football Academy (3rd)
U14
Plate: La Salle-Zobel (Champion), Ilocos United FC (2nd), Perpetual FC (3rd)
U16
Plate: Kaya FC Academy (Champion), CIFA (2nd), Apo Atletico FC (3rd)
The LALIGA Youth Tournament seeks to be the benchmark tournament in the ASEAN region for grassroots football, with eighty teams participating in the first iteration in the Philippines. Already in place in Malaysia and Indonesia, the competition will make its presence felt in Thailand in a few weeks.
Aiming to boost football talent, plans are in place to eventually have a regional tournament featuring outstanding teams from these local competitions.
Epic Management Inc. president Ed Pasion shares, "We are thrilled with the success of the LALIGA Youth Tournament here in the Philippines. With over 80 teams participating, this event was more than just a series of matches—it was a celebration of football and the exceptional talent of young players from across Asia. The passion and energy we experienced throughout the tournament were incredible, and it’s clear that the future of football is bright. We’re proud to have provided an unforgettable experience for everyone involved, and we look forward to continuing to grow the sport in the Philippines and the region."
LALIGA's Director for its Singapore Office, Iván Codina, adds, "We are very committed to the development of global grassroots football, and the Singapore Office has made the LALIGA Youth Tournament a priority project. We aim to work to the highest quality standards and to establish the LALIGA Youth Tournament brand as a reference in the region, thus we are very proud of the success of this edition in the Philippines."
The success of the LALIGA Youth Tournaments in Southeast Asia are a reflection of the Spanish top-flight's efforts to replicate recent successes in Spanish football in the region, which saw the men win both the Euros and the Olympics, and the varied success of its women's teams both in club and country, regardless of age groups.
All but one of the men's Euro-winning team came from current LALIGA clubs' youth academies, whether in the first (LALIGA EA SPORTS) or second (LALIGA HYPERMOTION), reflecting the boosted domestic talent pool while being complemented by some of the best from the rest of the world.
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