CEBU, Philippines — Don Bosco teams swept the Aboitiz Football Cup (AFC) this year, clinching championships in both 16 and 18 Boys divisions while simultaneously championing environmental sustainability.
The tournament,organized by the Central Visayas Football Association, held its exciting finale on March 15-16, 2025, at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex, showcased top football talent and an innovative recycling initiative that collected over 1,000 kilograms of clear PET bottles.
Don Bosco – Liloan Cebu won the Players 16 Boys category, with Davao Hyenas FC and Batangas Blitzkrieg Football Foundation taking first and second runner-up positions. In the Players 18 Boys division, Don Bosco Technical College claimed the title, with Batangas Stingrays FC and Davao Rovers FC following in the rankings.
Individual awards highlighted exceptional player performances. In the 16 Boys division, Xchyler Pantinople earned MVP, while Mark Justine Silmaro was named Best Goalkeeper. Other standouts included Zaeous Mikael Cortez (Best Defender), Nathaniel Alexis Tan (Best Midfielder), and Antonio Benito Canton (Best Striker).
The 18 Boys division saw Allister Louis Manlosa take MVP honors, with Eugene Christian A. Molleno as Best Goalkeeper. John Lexter Conde won Best Defender, and Godwin Velasquez and Cyrus Primar Ventura were recognized as Best Midfielder and Best Striker, respectively.
AFC’s commitment to sustainability
Beyond athletic achievement, AFC Season 24 strengthened its Wasteless Campaign, a sustainability initiative in partnership with Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines’ (CCEAP) Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo! program. Athletes, coaches, and spectators actively participated in the collection and recycling of clear PET bottles, ensuring that the materials reached PETValue Philippines, a cutting-edge facility run by Coca-Cola and Indorama Ventures.
“The Aboitiz Football Cup is more than a tournament—it’s an avenue to instill positive values and champion meaningful advocacies,” said Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Aboitiz Foundation President.
The initiative collected and properly sorted approximately 53,000 bottles, with top recycling teams including USC Alumni FC, SportsGen Int’l. Academy, and Rongcales Futbolitos FC.
“Our partnership with Aboitiz Foundation for the Aboitiz Football Cup highlights how even small efforts can make a big impact,” noted Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada, CCEAP’s VP for Corporate & Regulatory Affairs. “This is a milestone for our Tapon to Ipon program, and we look forward to growing our partnership as we work towards a circular economy.”
Supported by partners including Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estates, Apo Agua Infrastructura, and the Central Visayas Football Association with additional backing from AboitizPower’s Thermal Group and AdventEnergy, the Aboitiz Football Cup continues to demonstrate that sports can be a powerful catalyst for environmental awareness.
