THE BLUE and Lady Booters recently competed in the 14th AFC-Monfort Football Festival last Sunday, May 31 at the Ateneo High School Football Field. The friendly invitational featured a number of schools affiliated with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, as well as football clubs around Metro Manila.

In the Men’s 2nd Division, two Ateneo teams squared off at the championship round. Ateneo de Manila University Team B (ADMU-B) ended the elimination round with a 2-0-2 record for a total of eight points on their way to the playoffs while ADMU-A garnered 12 points with a 3-0-1 record and a +2 point difference. In the end, ADMU-B took the championship while ADMU-A finished the tournament as first runner-up.

In the Women’s Open Division, ADMU-B won the championship with an elimination round record of 2-0-2 for a total of eight points. Meanwhile, ADMU-A dominated the elimination round with a 4-0-0 record to a tune of 12 points but succumbed in the playoff round to conclude with a second runner-up finish.

Blue Booter Jarvey Gayoso and Lady Booter Isay Cruz Sabio won the Most Valuable Player award for their respective divisions.

The tournament is named in memory of the late Christopher Monfort, a distinguished figure in the Ateneo football scene who passed away in 2001. Monfort was the Head Coach for the Ateneo Football team back in his day while also working as the Assistant Athletic Director for the University Athletics Office. Naturally, his passion for football led him to start the Ateneo Football Center (AFC) to help young players share in his love for the game.

Aside from his many contributions to Ateneo football, Monfort was also a key figure in the national scene. He was the President of the National Capital Region Football Association as well as the Secretary-General of the Philippine Football Federation. He also acted as the Philippines’ representative in the Fédération Internationale de Football, the highest governing body for football in the world.

Tournament Organizer Joseph Del Valle shares that the reason for arranging the annual cup is to commemorate and celebrate Monfort’s birthday on May 28, as well as “the spirit of football not only in the Ateneo but also in the Philippines.”