Life Today PH

CEBU CITY — The Aboitiz Football Cup, the country’s longest-running grassroots football league, opened its 26th season on July 26 at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex in Talisay City, Cebu, continuing its more than two-decade effort to develop young Filipino athletes and expand grassroots football nationwide.

The league now covers Cebu, Batangas, Davao, and Tarlac, providing more opportunities for young footballers to compete and develop their skills.

The opening ceremonies highlighted the league’s youngest participants through the Players 6 and Players 8 divisions, underscoring the importance of introducing children to football at an early age.

Sugbu Calidad Football Club won the Players 8 championship after defeating SHS-AdC Magis Eagles in the final, while CFC Academy placed third.

In the Players 6 division, SHS-AdC Magis Eagles emerged as champions, followed by Giuseppe Football Club and CFC Academy.

Philippine Football Federation General Secretary Angelico Gelix Mercader joined Cebu Regional Football Association officials Rodney Orale, Jose Guy Ceniza, and Nimrod Quiñonez, as well as Aboitiz leaders and league partners, during the ceremonial kickoff.

Their participation highlighted the shared commitment of the Philippine football community to strengthening grassroots development.

“The Aboitiz Football Cup has always been about creating opportunities for young athletes to grow—not only as football players but as individuals,” said Anton Perdices, Chief Operating Officer for Distribution of Aboitiz Power. “I encourage every player to play with courage, play with discipline, and most importantly, play with respect.”

The Aboitiz Football Cup has grown from a Cebu-based tournament into a national grassroots football platform, creating more opportunities for young Filipino footballers to compete and develop.

Earlier this year, the league launched the inaugural Aboitiz Football Cup Champions League, bringing together champion teams from Cebu, Batangas, Tarlac, and Davao at the Aboitiz Pitch in Lipa City.

It marked the first time champions from the league’s regional tournaments competed against one another on a national stage.

The tournament is also promoting environmental stewardship through the “Tapon to Ipon” campaign in partnership with Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines.

Players, coaches, and supporters are encouraged to recycle clear PET plastic bottles at designated collection points, integrating sustainability into the matchday experience.

“After the World Cup, what better way to deepen your love for football than by supporting local football—and that’s the Aboitiz Football Cup,” said Chad Songalia of the Cebu Regional Football Association.

Matches in Cebu will continue until the end of the year, while the 26th season will also feature tournament legs in Batangas, Davao, and Tarlac.

The expanded schedule is expected to further strengthen the league’s national footprint and provide more opportunities for young athletes to compete.