Kaya FC-Iloilo claims PFF Women’s League title

c/o the Philippine Football Federation

Kaya FC-Iloilo became the first club team to win the PFF Women's League sponsored by Coca-Cola Philippines on Saturday night, pulling off a 1-0 victory over Manila Digger FC at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The lone goal of the match came in the 86th minute, as Sheen Nicole Ramores scored the game-winner after Sara Castañeda created the opportunity for Ramores with the former DLSU maestro's attempt initially denied by the back line.

Sara found the UST alumna unmarked in the box, with Nicole sending a low strike past Ayishatu Simpson.

The match changed after Hannah Pachejo was sent off after being booked twice in a span of three minutes, with the second yellow card being issued in the 26th minute.

In spite of the personnel disadvantage, Manila Digger managed to hold firm with a scoreless first half.

Kaya FC earned a penalty after Camille Rodriguez was fouled inside the area, but the Ateneo alumna was denied by Simpson in the 54th minute.

It is another title in a stellar year for head coach Let Dimzon, who also helmed Far Eastern University as they reclaimed the women's football title earlier this year in the UAAP Season 85 tournament.

She shared with the media afterwards, "I’m happy for Kaya, it’s another historic achievement for the club. We’re the first club to win the PFF Women’s League and it is a huge honor for us to get this title."

Shelah Cadag, who was selected as the league's Most Valuable Player, adds, "All our hard work and sacrifice paid off with this win. We did our best and we thank everyone who supported us. It was a good game because we fought hard until the end."

Cadag was unable to add onto her tally of twelve goals on Saturday night, but she did put the Manila Digger defense to the test with her scoring opportunities.

Dimzon also remains hopeful as well that the league will resume with additional stakeholders making investments in the sport.

Coca-Cola Philippines president Tony del Rosario was among those who were present for the occasion, highlighting the commitment the brand has for the sport. During the run of the Philippines in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, it was made public that Coca-Cola highlighted such commitment to women's football in the country by taking up sponsorship of the PFF Women's League.

Other notable executives present for the final are Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta, as well as newly-minted General Secretary Mikhail Torre, Philippine Women's National Team manager Jeff Cheng, and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Lady Tamaraws pulled off a repeat against the defending champions De La Salle University. Having dethroned them last May for the UAAP title and completing the treble for the Morayta-based institution, they also pulled off a 2-1 triumph in the third place game.

Dionesa Tolentin scored the game-winner in the 53rd minute, a few minutes after Angelica Teves scored the equalizer early in the second half. Carmela Altiche had scored the opening goal of the match.

Teves would finish as the co-Golden Boot winners with Isabella Bandoja of Tuloy FC as both players netted nineteen goals this season, with Simpson not coming home empty handed by being named as the Golden Glove awardee.

Named as the best of their respective positions are defender Jonela Albiño of FEU and midfielder Charisa Lemoran of Kaya.

Capping off the list of winners is Nomads FC with their Fair Play Award.

Coca-Cola Philippines to serve as PFF Women's League sponsor

Members of the FEU Women's Football Team being provided Coca-Cola during the viewing party

With the backdrop of the historic achievement of the Philippines' Senior Women's National Football Team, Coca-Cola Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to the sport by becoming a major sponsor of the PFF Women's League. 

The revelation was made during the viewing party for the FIFA Women's World Cup match between the Philippines and New Zealand, which was co-presented by Coca-Cola, as well as by the Philippine Football Federation and the New Zealand embassy. The event took place at the UP Town Center in Quezon City, an opportunity for those who want to express their full and unwavering support towards the Filipinas, which secured a historic 1-0 victory over the tournament co-hosts.

Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario shares, "We congratulate Team Filipinas for bringing honor to the country. We are proud to have brought sports fans together to witness the country’s first-ever goal and first-ever win in the World Cup. Coca-Cola has been a proud supporter of the Women’s World Cup™ since the inaugural tournament in 1991, and through our “Believing is Magic” campaign, we are happy to create excitement and moments of Real Magic for people in the Philippines and around the world as we refresh the shared experience of the tournament. The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ represents a positive change in society, embodying the belief that anything is possible."

From the perspective of the PFF, president Mariano Araneta, Jr. says, "We are delighted that Coca-Cola Philippines has partnered with PFF to support women’s football by agreeing to be a major sponsor of the PFF Women’s League. It is great to have a brand like Coca-Cola support women’s football, especially with the Filipinas creating history in their maiden participation in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™. We hope that this partnership can foster the development of up-and-coming women’s players."

The Women's League is currently ongoing and features ten teams. Collegiate powerhouse De La Salle University has won the previous three iterations, with the matches taking place at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite. This current season is the first one to take place post-pandemic.

PFF Women's Cup final to be decided between UP and FEU

In a potential preview to the UAAP football season next year, the University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University will dispute the PFF Women's Cup final on Saturday, December 17, at the PFF National Training Facility in Carmona, Cavite. Kickoff is slated at 7pm

Both teams are coming off semifinal upsets to earn their place in the final, with the fourth seed Fighting Maroons escaping with a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Kaya FC, after a scoreless normal, added, and extra time.

The third seed Lady Tamaraws formalized the final matchup with a 3-0 victory over Tuloy FC, with goals from Katrina Magbitang, Lylhanie Cayabyab, and Dionesa Tolentin setting the stage for this weekend.

FEU ended up as 2-0 winners in their lone meeting in the eliminations, with Tolentin and Regine Rebosura responsible for the scoring.

UP head coach Anto Gonzales shares, "The girls accepted their capabilities on what to do to contain the strengths of their opponents. and the awareness and willingness to sacrifice and work for the team. We’re
appreciative of the efforts of our players even if they’re not good individually, but all the more that we have to work together as a team."

FEU head coach Let Dimzon says about their matchup, "Going into the finals we really need to motivate the players and prepare them individually, physically, and mentally. The players have good character and the more they are challenged, they show their fighting spirit."

In the undercard, Kaya and Tuloy will face off for the third place game at 4pm.

The doubleheader puts a cap to the PFF Women's Cup, the first women's football tournament in the country post-pandemic. Including Saturday, 32 matches were played in the past couple of months to determine the best local women's side.

Third Season of PFF Women’s League set for weekend kickoff

Philippine Football Federation General-Secretary Atty. Ed Gastanes with some of the participants at the PFF Women's League.

The Philippines' top women's football tournament marks its third season this weekend, with the start of the PFF Women's League.

Organized and sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation, the PFF Women's League is comprised of ten teams competing in a double round-robin league format, with each side playing eighteen matches for a total of ninety fixtures that will run until December 2019.

PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes shares, "Women’s football continues its ascendancy in the country through our women national team and the PFF Women’s League. We thank FIFA for supporting the PFF in its women’s football development initiatives. We look forward to another thrilling third season of the PFF Women’s League."

Four of the five teams who participate in the UAAP are involved in the Women's League, led by defending champions La Salle and last season's runner-up in the league, UST. Season 81's losing finalist Far Eastern University and the University of the Philippines are also involved, with Ateneo de Manila opting to stay in the sidelines for this particular campaign.

Completing the cadre of teams involved in the third year running are notable women's club sides Green Archers United and Hiraya FC, the latter of which has tied up with PFL side Stallion Laguna.

Tuloy FC also returns after making their season debut, while serving as this year's newcomers are historic side Nomads FC, as well as and Maroons FC and Tigers FC.

Matches are currently being played at the PFF National Training Centre inside the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park in Carmona, Cavite, with the potential of future matches being played at certain schools in the future. All fixtures so far have been currently slated for weekend mornings, but the possibility exists that games could be played during weekdays.

Supported by FIFA through its Forward Programme, the PFF Women's League utilizes the MyPFF online registration system for all its players and coaches. It also serves as part of the preparations for the Senior Women's National Team for their upcoming competitions this year: the AFF Women's Championship this coming August in Chonburi, Thailand and the 30th Southeast Asian Games later the Philippines is hosting this year. Most of the players that comprise the national team pool are participating in the tournament.