CRFA's National Championship Hopes Dwindle After Heavy Defeat to Iloilo-Guimaras
The Cebu Regional Football Association (CRFA) is now teetering on the edge of elimination from the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Under-16 Boys National Championship Regional Qualifiers. This follows a decisive 4-0 loss to the Iloilo-Guimaras Regional Football Association (IGRFA) in a crucial match held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
The game took place at the SJRI football pitch in San Carlos City, where IGRFA dominated from the outset. Joy Amotillo Jr. broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, giving his team an early advantage that set the tone for the rest of the contest.
Iloilo-Guimaras Extends Lead Before Halftime
Just before the halftime whistle, Gabrielle Jan Belluga delivered a stunning blow to CRFA's morale. He scored two quick goals in the 40th and 43rd minutes, effectively extending IGRFA's lead to a commanding 3-0. This rapid succession of scores left the Cebu squad struggling to regain their footing as they headed into the break.
In the second half, CRFA attempted to mount a comeback but found themselves unable to penetrate IGRFA's solid defense. The team remained scoreless throughout the entire match, highlighting their offensive struggles on the day.
Late Goal Seals the Victory for IGRFA
Aron James Lazaro put the final nail in the coffin with a goal in the 90th minute, capping off a comprehensive 4-0 victory for Iloilo-Guimaras. This result not only secured three points for IGRFA but also significantly impacted the standings in the Visayas regional qualifiers.
Following this defeat, CRFA now sits in third place with a total of four points. IGRFA has moved up to second place with six points, while the host team, Negros Occidental Regional Football Association (Norfa), leads the group with a perfect nine points.
Critical Final Matches Ahead
The upcoming fixtures will determine the fate of all teams involved. CRFA is set to face group leaders Norfa in their final match on Friday. Meanwhile, IGRFA will take on the winless Eastern Visayas Regional Football Association (EVRFA) in the other concurrent match.
Despite the heavy loss, CRFA still retains a slim chance of advancing to the national finals. To secure a spot, they must achieve a victory against the formidable Norfa. Additionally, they need IGRFA to either draw with or lose to EVRFA in their respective encounter.
Only the top two teams from the Visayas regional qualifiers will earn the right to progress to the highly anticipated national finals of the PFF Under-16 Boys National Championship. The pressure is now on CRFA to deliver a standout performance in their last group stage game to keep their championship dreams alive.
