By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Classico de San Carlos FC emerged as the 2025 NORFA Champions League U16 champions after a dominant 3-0 victory over Bacolod United FC in the tournament finals held at the Bago City Sports Complex.

The title match, dubbed as the “El Clásico” of Negros Occidental youth football, saw Classico de San Carlos put on a commanding display both offensively and defensively. 

Coming off a high-octane 6-3 semifinal win over Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos (CST-R) Golden Eagles, the San Carlos-based squad, made key tactical adjustments to counter Bacolod United’s style of play.

The strategy paid off as Classico de San Carlos controlled possession and created scoring chances throughout the match. 

Their disciplined backline, combined with a dynamic midfield, helped them shut out their opponents en route to a convincing three-goal win.

The team also swept all the major individual awards with Jhon Luke Libunao as MVP, Eljay Sandag as Best Goalkeeper, Hanz Nathaniel dela Cruz as Best Defender, France Navarro as Best Midfielder, and Jarenz Negasca as Best Striker.

Earlier in the competition, Classico de San Carlos booked their place in the finals after outlasting city rivals CST-R Golden Eagles in a thrilling semifinal. 

A second-half surge led to a 6-3 win. 

On the other side of the bracket, Bacolod United FC narrowly defeated City of Kabankalan FC, 1-0, in a tightly contested match where Kabankalan missed a crucial penalty kick.

In the third-place playoff, the CST-R Golden Eagles secured the bronze medal against City of Kabankalan FC.

Classico de San Carlos FC’s championship run has brought pride to San Carlos City, with the team lauded for its blend of technical prowess, tactical intelligence and individual brilliance.

The NORFA Champions League U16 tournament wrapped up with strong performances from all participating teams, underscoring the growing talent and fierce competition in grassroots football across Negros Occidental./ASC, WDJ