Defending champion Kaya-Iloilo kicked off 2025 with a 2-0 victory over the Philippine National Youth Team, maintaining their unbeaten record in the Philippines Football League at the University of the Philippines Football Field on Sunday.
Kaya remains at the top of the table with a 6-1-0 win-draw-loss record, sitting on 19 points with a +19 goal difference.
“I think this is a big team performance. We knew they would possess the ball a lot, and we were disciplined defensively,” Lucas Del Rosario said.
“At halftime, we pretty much stuck with our game plan. We tried to test them with long balls from behind, and that’s how we were able to get the first goal.”
After a scoreless first half, del Rosario capitalized on a long ball from defender Simone Rota, evading goalkeeper Michael Antilo Jr. for a simple tap-in goal in the 51st minute to give Kaya a 1-0 lead.
Marwin Angeles added another in the 83rd minute, dribbling past two youth team defenders to seal the victory.
