The 25th season of the Aboitiz Football Cup concluded in spectacular fashion at the Tionko football grounds in Davao over the weekend, drawing an impressive 108 grassroots teams from across Mindanao. The festival-style tournament, which spanned two days, featured 13 age-group divisions, with elimination matches on Sunday culminating in champions being crowned in each category.
Under-18 Division: RMC Bulldogs Dominate
In the under-18 division, the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Bulldogs showcased their prowess by dominating the Dacs Team to secure the championship title. The Dacs Team settled for runner-up honors, while CR7 Foodtruck FC and Rovers FC Davao finished in third and fourth place, respectively.
Individual awards in this division highlighted standout performances. Gabriel Aron Alar earned the Golden Boot for top scorer, Leomer Polo claimed the Golden Gloves for best goalkeeper, and Salvador Villanueva was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). Villanueva expressed his gratitude in an interview, stating, "Happy po kasi first time ko maging MVP sa ganitong event. Enjoy lang sa game, walang masyadong pressure kasi tiwala ako sa team (I’m happy because it’s my first time to be named MVP in an event like this. I just enjoyed the game. There wasn’t much pressure because I trust my team)."
Under-13 Division: Crocs FC Secures Crown
The under-13 division saw the Crocs FC triumph over the RMC Bulldogs to capture the crown. Rosevale School and Brassfield FC claimed the next two spots, rounding out the top finishers. Award recipients included LRO Vallecera with the Golden Boot, Tesoro Venjo with the Golden Gloves, Jiroh Simpas as Best Defender, and Rock Calatrava as MVP.
Other Age Group Highlights
In the under-7 division, Pineapple Country FC edged out Davao Strikers FC, CR7 Foodtruck FC, and D’Tee Ferj FC for the title. ZM Anasco earned the Golden Boot, Silvor Bag-ao was named Best Defender, and Bella Spinel took MVP honors. The coach of Pineapple Country FC attributed their success to teamwork and preparation, noting, "They helped each other during the game. If someone makes a mistake, they make up for it as a team," and emphasized the role of consistent training even during the off-season.
The under-9 title went to Nueva Vergara, who finished ahead of Crocs, Balangay Sentinels, and CR7 Foodtruck FFC. Calibo Simon won the Golden Boot, Deangelo Gonzales earned the Golden Gloves, Youseff Jelali was named Best Defender, and Andray Villamor was awarded MVP.
Mommies and Daddies Categories
In the Mommies event, Wolves FC captured the title over CR7 Foodtruck FC and Aces Football Club. Estela Sanchez earned the Golden Boot, Jenn Pajiji the Golden Gloves, Peny Gabito Best Defender, and Eartha Alternado MVP.
The Wolves FC also dominated the Daddies category, defeating CR7 Foodtruck FC and Aces. Angelo John won the Golden Boot, Let Polo the Golden Gloves, Dhanny Redulfa Best Defender, and Jamil Pajiji MVP.
Tournament Significance and Future Prospects
Tournament commissioner Ching Delos Reyes emphasized that the bootfest underscored participation, development, and sportsmanship, while tournament director Arman Valencia ensured smooth operations throughout the weekend meet. Now in its 25th season, this tournament remains one of the country’s longest-running grassroots football programs, organized by the Aboitiz Foundation in partnership with the Davao South Regional Football Association and Davao Light, with a continued emphasis on environmental responsibility.
Looking ahead, under-16 and under-18 winners, including the RMC Bulldogs, will advance to national-level matches in May at the Aboitiz Pitch under the AFC Champions League development pathway, offering promising opportunities for further growth and competition.
