ILOILO City – In a stunning twist to Iloilo’s storied football rivalry, Santa Barbara Iloilo Football Club silenced hometown favorite Barotac Nuevo Footballers United, 2-1, in a dramatic penalty shootout to seize the Iloilo-Guimaras Regional Football Association (IGRFA) U16 championship and clinch a slot in the Visayas Championship.
The final, staged at the fabled Barotac Nuevo Football Stadium, was a war of attrition from start to finish. Both sides dug deep, trading defensive stands and attacking bursts, but the scoreboard remained untouched after regulation. With the title on the line, penalties became the decider.
Santa Barbara’s youngsters held their composure under the spotlight, burying two spot-kicks while Barotac could only convert one, delivering a shock result in the heart of the town long hailed as the country’s “football capital.”
With the victory, Santa Barbara not only carved its name into Iloilo’s football history but also earned the right to carry the Iloilo-Guimaras banner in the Visayas Championship, where it will clash with other regional champions for a coveted slot in the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) U16 Boys National Championships.
Barotac, for its part, settled for runner-up honors but again showed why its grassroots program remains unmatched. I PAGASA claimed second runner-up and the Fair Play Award for its sportsmanship and clean play throughout the qualifiers.
The IGRFA tournament reaffirmed Iloilo’s dominance in Philippine grassroots football. Santa Barbara’s triumph signals a new force rising in Western Visayas, while Barotac’s proud tradition ensures the rivalry is far from over.
The PFF will soon announce the schedule and venue of the Visayas tilt, where Santa Barbara now braces for an even bigger stage./PN
