CEBU, PHILIPPINES — A silver medal in a tough competition still shines like gold.
That’s exactly what the Lapu-Lapu City Heroes FC felt after they settled for the first runner-up honors in the Under 11 division of the Dolphins Cup 2026 football tournament in Bacolod City recently.
Composed of Mark Daniel Bacla-an, Devin Jasper Gildo, Austin Tyller Arong, Asriel Josh Heredia, Spencer Sven Lomadilla, McJohnston Singh, C-Raghnall Bendaño, Rua Hoshino, Kyle Nakagawa, Julian Clark Rustia, Yno Javen Nudalo, Denver Himaya, and Josiah Christian Peligrino, the Heroes punched a quarterfinals ticket after winning four of five matches in the group stage.
The Heroes, coached by John Dave Regner, Lops Tumulak, Joseph Estremos, Rylle Ancajas, and Khent Vincent Sotto, rolled past the Peacekepers, 2-1, University of Negros Oriental-Recoletos (UNO-R), 4-0, Cassico de San Carlos, 2-0, and GPV, 4-1. They absorbed their lone defeat at the hands of ADA Bacolod, 6-0.
The Oponganon booters upended Jesusa, 2-1, in the quarters to set up a grudge rematch with ADA Bacolod in the Final Four.
Fighting with great resolve, the Heroes pulled off a vengeful 1-0 win over their former tormentor ADA Bacolod to advance to the championship.
However, the Heroes bowed down to UNO-R, 2-0, in the gold-medal match.
Nevertheless, a second-place trophy was good enough for the Heroes in their first foray in one of Bacolod’s biggest football events.
| Emmanuel B. Villaruel/Sports Editor
