By: GIL MORIONES
MANILA -- For the first time since 2013, the Under-16 squad of the Philippine Men's National Football Team reigned as champions of the 2025 Lion City Cup - Boy's Tournament, Sunday evening at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.
The young PMNFT collected two wins against host Singapore and Cambodia, and draw against Hong Kong enough to tower them as first place in the standings earning overall seven points.
To make it up in this historic prerogatives, the National youngsters beat tournament's host in the opening day through the goals of Joshua Moleje in the 64th minute and Lawrence Binalong at 85th minute.
While, Aaron Long saved the team from the brink of losing against Hong Kong after he scored an equalizer for the Philippines at the 70th minute, the game ended in 1-1.
On the concluding day tonight, the goals produced from Long and Francis Ponticano helped the Nationals to win against Cambodia in resounding 3-1 victory.
This the country's first Lion City Cup championship title made possible with the players tapped from NCRFA, Zamboanga del Norte Dipolog Football Association, Central Visayas Regional Football Association, Laguna Football Association, Negros Occidental Regional Football Association, and Golden Davao Regional Football Association under the tutelage of Head Coach Tetsuya Tsuchida.
