Just six months after concluding her UAAP career with another championship for Far Eastern University, Dionesa Tolentin added another title to her growing résumé — winning the 2025 PFF Women’s League with Kaya-Iloilo.
Tolentin was part of the championship-winning squad that edged Makati, 2-1, last Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Football Pitch, thanks to goals from Lyka Cuenco and Shelah Cadag.
The result brought Kaya level with Stallion Laguna on 23 points after 10 matches, but Kaya’s superior goal difference of +35 edged Stallion’s +19, sealing the league crown.
Reflecting on her latest milestone, the three-time UAAP gold medalist was quick to credit her teammates for their resilience and determination in securing the title.
“Yung thoughts ko po sa game: sobrang thankful ako sa teammates ko kasi lahat ginagawa para talaga maipanalo yung game,” the FEU great said. “The past two games namin, sobrang hindi kami nananalo, puro draw. Pero this game yung ina-aim po talaga namin is manalo. Hindi naman ito ibibigay kasi sana amin ito eh.
“Binigyan kami ng chance ni Lord na makuha namin ito. Lahat ng players ginawa lahat para maipanalo yung game na ‘to. Yung play namin, nagawa namin and thankful kami kasi nanalo kami.”
Kaya’s title hopes looked in jeopardy when Makati’s Rhiauna de la Calzada equalized in the 81st minute, cancelling out Cuenco’s early strike. But the champions showed grit and composure in the dying moments.
Cadag — a former standout from the University of Santo Tomas — delivered the title-clinching goal late in the match. That not only secured the championship but also a berth in the next edition of the AFC Women’s Champions League.
For Tolentin, the manner in which Kaya fought until the end was a testament to the team’s mental strength.
“Yung pinakamaganda sa Kaya, hanggang may oras pa, hindi kami magre-relax. Hanggang may oras pa, gagawin namin lahat maka-goal at maipanalo yung game,” said the Zamboanga del Norte native.
“Ito (din) yung talagang ina-aim namin as a team — makuha yung title again at become back-to-back champions and gusto namin bumalik sa AFC kasi kita namin na kaya namin dun. Kailangan pa rin namin ng training para mas makapag-compete talaga papuntang AFC, pero masaya kami dahil nakuha namin (ito).”
With the domestic season now in the books, Tolentin shifts her focus to international duties. She is part of the 26-player pool selected by Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso for the upcoming qualifiers for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
The squad also includes former UAAP stars Inna Palacios and Bhebe Lemoran.
To qualify for the tournament proper — and stay in the hunt for another FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance — the Philippines must top Group G, which includes Saudi Arabia, host nation Cambodia, and Hong Kong.
It’s a challenge Tolentin is ready to embrace.
“Sa akin, ang gusto ko lang ay mag-focus dun at ibigay yung best ko para mai-representa ang Pilipinas para sa bayan lagi,” she said.
