Ateneo Boys' Football Team captures U18 title at Borneo Cup 2025

The Ateneo de Manila Boys Football Team (ABFT) has truly conquered the international stage! Representing the Philippines, the Blue Eagles were crowned U18 Champions of the Malaysia Borneo Football Cup 2025 after an outstanding performance in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, where the tournament was held from 27–29 October 2025 at Penampang Stadium.

Rostered in the Ateneo championship squad were: captain Andres Dumlao (12-Bobola), co-captain Tim Patawaran (12-Anchieta), Shainito Abraham (11-De Brito), Anton Altuna (11-Nakaura), Enzo Altuna (12-Acquaviva), Diego Angeles (12-Arnaiz), Matin Bendicion (12-Arnaiz), Odie Demetria (11-Moscoso), Ivan Gabasa (11-Owen), Andres Hizon (12-Arnaiz), Jose Ilagan (11-Angelis), Javi Kintanar (12-Beyzym), Tiago Remulla (12-Bobola), Gab Reyes (11-Campion), Ale Sias (10-Page), Manu Simpao (11-Bellarmino), Trey Solis (11-Borja), Roman Tabayoyong (12-Evans), Johnson Talosig (12-Arnaiz), and Aki Tatad (11-Gavan).

They were coached by JP Merida, Gilbert Ayuson, Mark Maravilla, Jerwin Belina, and Rafael Cruz.

As reported by Hi-lites’ Maxine Agno, ABFT opened their campaign with a strong 4–1 victory over Datuk Peter Mojuntin (DPM) Sports School, with goals from Manu Simpao, Enzo Altuna, Diego Angeles, and team captain Andres Dumlao. Their momentum continued in the second match, securing a 2–1 win against Jerudong International School, powered by another pair of goals from Dumlao and Angeles.

The second day began with a tight defensive battle that resulted in a loss to National Capital Region (NCR) Select, but the Blue Eagles immediately bounced back with a solid 2–0 win over Tunas Asas Bola Sepak (TABS), courtesy of goals from Andres Hizon and Odie Demetria. The day closed with a decisive victory over RZFC, sealed by a clutch goal from Captain Dumlao, setting the stage for the championship match.

On October 29, Ateneo faced NCR Select once more in the final. In a hard-fought rematch, the Blue Eagles dug deep and delivered when it mattered most, securing the Malaysia Borneo Football Cup U18 championship trophy.

This is not just any youth competition: the Borneo Cup is a highly regarded, Tier-3 sanctioned international youth tournament endorsed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Sabah FA. It attracts a wide international field, drawing teams from across Asia and Australia. In 2025, a total of 118 teams competed in the event, which featured categories ranging from U10 to U18, as well as an Open division and even an Over-45 category.

Congratulations to the team and coaches for their dedication and for bringing home the trophy! This remarkable victory stands as a testament not only to their skill and resilience, but also to Ateneo’s commitment to developing world-class youth athletes.