Kaya FC-Iloilo seals perfect PWL three-peat before AWCL

Kaya FC-Iloilo completed a perfect seven-game sweep of the 2026 PFF Women’s League to capture its third consecutive championship.

The Philippine Football Federation member club matched De La Salle University as the most successful team in league history with three titles.

Kaya capped its unbeaten campaign with a 2-0 victory over runner-up Far Eastern University last Tuesday at the Adidas Football Park in Pasay City.

Philippine women’s national football team standout Alex Carpio scored both goals against the Lady Tamaraws.

Carpio controlled Janly Fontamillas’ cross from the right with her chest before firing the opening goal in the 40th minute.

The eventual most valuable player completed her brace with an 86th-minute run from midfield that carried her past FEU goalkeeper Kristine Dela Peña.

“Sobrang grateful naming lahat,” Carpio, an important part of the Filipinas SEA Games gold medal and World Cup-clinching Asian Cup squads in the past eight months, said. “Gusto naming magpasalamat sa FEU, sa La Salle, sa UP, sa competition na binigay sa’min, na binigay sa amin week after week.”

First-time league champion coach David Basa said Kaya’s preparations for its coming international campaign did not diminish the importance of its domestic title defense.

Basa emphasized that the club “never took [PWL] for granted.”

“Every game is a hard fought game and I’m happy for the players for winning the title,” said the former men’s national team defender.

Kaya collected all 21 available points during the 2026 PWL season and scored 32 goals.

The official PFF standings list Kaya with seven victories and no defeats or draws.

FEU finished a distant second with 12 points from four victories and three losses.

The Lady Tamaraws entered the competition as three-time PFF Women’s Cup winners and reigning four-time champions of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez, PFF Executive Committee Woman Representative Belay Fernando and NCRFA President Miguel Gutierrez presented the awards.

Carpio received the league’s MVP award, joining Filipinas standouts Hali Long, Shelah Cadag and Sara Castañeda on the list of PWL MVP winners.

Filipina5 veteran Inday Tolentin secured the Golden Boot after scoring eight goals.

Tolentin previously represented the Philippines in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup.

Kaya’s Japanese player Saki Yoshida earned the Best Defender award.

FEU standouts Sarahgen Tulabing and Jessa Lehayan were named Best Midfielder and Best Goalkeeper, respectively.

Tulabing is also a member of the Filipina5 national futsal team.

Kaya is now in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary stage scheduled from August 17 to 23.

The continental appearance will be Kaya’s second campaign in Asia’s premier women’s club competition.

Kaya was drawn into Group B with host FC Ilbirs, Hong Kong’s TSL FC and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown FC, according to the official AFC schedule.

The preliminary stage features 24 clubs divided into six groups, with each group winner advancing to join six directly qualified teams in the main competition, according to the Asian Football Confederation.

Kaya opens its campaign against FC Ilbirs on August 17 at 6 p.m. Philippine time.

Tulangbing will reinforce Kaya for the continental competition alongside La Salle standouts Maegan Alforque, Dani Tanjangco and Jessica Pido.

Filipinas fullback Janae DeFazio and United States women’s national beach soccer player Marissa Vasquez will also join the squad.

“Dadalhin namin yung mga natutunan namin when we go to Champions League on Thursday and continue to use everything we learned para makapagpakita ng magandang laban sa AWCL,” Carpio said.

De La Salle and the University of the Philippines will contest third place at 5 p.m. on August 15 at the Adidas Football Park.