Photo credit: PFF

In a momentous achievement for Philippine football, the Under-16 boys’ national team etched their names in the record books by winning the 29th Lion City Cup in Singapore—completing the tournament unbeaten and securing the country's first-ever international title at this age level.

The young Azkals sealed their historic campaign with an emphatic 3-1 win over Cambodia U16 on Sunday at Jalan Besar Stadium. Their road to the title included a 2-0 victory over host nation Singapore and a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Hong Kong. Thanks to Singapore’s subsequent 4-1 win against Hong Kong in the final match of the group, the Philippines finished on top of the table with seven points—enough to clinch the championship outright.

“This victory brings not only pride and joy, but great hope to the young aspiring Filipino footballers from across our nation,” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Gutierrez. “Truly you have shown what a team can achieve with unity and solidarity. Mabuhay kayo!”

Among the standouts was forward Aarran Long, whose mother hails from Zamboanga City. Long delivered two goals in the final, one assisted by Filbert Tacardon, and emerged as the Philippines’ top scorer with three goals across the tournament. Francis Poticano also found the net in the final, while team captain and central defender Alphan Lomibao provided the composure and leadership that kept the squad focused throughout.

Long, named Player of the Match against Cambodia, later revealed the team’s added motivation. “There were people on social media questioning our selection, saying it was unfair,” he said in an interview with the Straits Times. “We had to block that out and prove them wrong. It’s a dream come true to do just that.”

This win marks a significant turnaround for the U16 team, which only last year ended its ASEAN U16 Championship campaign winless. Learning from that experience, the PFF doubled down on youth development, emphasizing early-stage training and regional talent identification.

That renewed focus bore fruit quickly. In October 2024, the Philippines U16 placed second in their AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers group for the first time, defeating Cambodia and Macau with confidence. That progress laid the groundwork for their Lion City Cup campaign, where they opened with a 2-0 revenge victory against Singapore—avenging a 0-4 loss from the previous year—with goals from Joshua Moleje and Lawrence Binalong.

The draw against a strong Hong Kong side, which had bested regional heavyweights like Syria and Jordan in earlier competitions, showcased the team's growing resilience. Long's equalizer and a crucial penalty save by goalkeeper Jaime Sandejas secured a vital point.

This champion squad represents a broad cross-section of the Philippines, with players scouted from regional football associations (RFAs) across the archipelago. Many had already played together in past regional and international competitions, thanks to the PFF’s continued investment in grassroots and youth football.

Key to this success is the PFF Talent Identification Network, led by UEFA-A licensed coach Roman Oliver, which works to ensure that promising players from the provinces are given national exposure. Even RFA leaders, like Davao de Oro’s Dennis Bugas, personally traveled to Singapore to support their homegrown players—like Edgar Renopal Jr.—on this historic journey.

Off the pitch, the role of the players’ parents proved vital. From organizing fundraising efforts to ensuring players remained focused and well-prepared, the families were an integral part of the team’s backbone.

Much credit is also due to Head Coach Tetsuya Tsuchida, who has led the PFF’s youth development since launching the Center of Excellence (COE) program in 2023. Many members of the U16 squad are graduates of that initiative. Tsuchida’s approach—prioritizing rest, rotating players strategically, and seeing his substitutes as “game changers”—proved essential to maintaining energy and momentum throughout the tournament.

Team manager Miguel Gutierrez praised the coach’s meticulous preparation, while PFF President Gutierrez extended his gratitude to the rest of the coaching team, including assistant coaches Richard Leyble, David Asare, Anthony Albao, Juven Francisco, and physical therapist Mayon Francia.

“This is not just a victory for one team—it’s a victory for every RFA, every coach, every parent, and every child who dreams of wearing the national jersey,” Gutierrez added. “Together, we are building a stronger future for Philippine football.”

As the final whistle blew in Singapore, it was more than just a win on the scoreboard. It was a defining moment for the next generation of Filipino footballers—proof that with vision, unity, and belief, the future of the beautiful game in the Philippines looks brighter than ever.