Capital1’s Marienell Cristobal is all smiles after scoring the Solar Strickers’ first goal —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Capital1 entered the league looking to shake up the status quo.
Makati FC had the same thing in mind.
The two newcomers showed why they should not be taken lightly in the 2025 PFF Women’s League.
READ: Capital1 builds fighting squad for PFF debut
“Our team is still new, said Capital1 forward Lyka Teves, who had a goal in the 65th minute of a 5-0 rout of University of the Philippines at Mall of Asia Football Pitch over the weekend. “We’ve been training for two weeks. Our chemistry is still lacking.”
That did not stop the Solar Strikers, though.
Marienell Cristobal (sixth) and forward Judie Arevalo (43rd) came through in the first half. American forward Arianna del Moral scored in the 54th while compatriot Emma Young found the back of the net in the 82nd to ice the rout and bounce back from a previous loss.
“After [our first loss], our coach made a lot of adjustments for this game. I’m happy that we were able to do what our coach asked of us,” said Teves, who feels she has found a home with the Solar Strikers.
12-year-old standout
“It is a pleasure playing for Capital1. I didn’t hesitate to join when they invited me,” she said. “I’m going to grow here in the club.”
Like Teves, Nafeeza Nori had little hesitation in expressing her love for her squad.
“I think this is my best team ever,” said the 13-year-old Indonesian, who scored two goals for Makati FC in the team’s 4-0 victory over University of Santo Tomas.
MFC is fielding a roster featuring a lot of youth and a potpourri of international standouts. And after being held scoreless by a gritty UST team in the first half of the match, the squad flaunted its international flavor with Ghanian forward Veronica Appiah knocking down a goal in the 49th minute.
Mikaela Villacin added a goal in extra time to bookend Nori’s goals.
“The first time I go inside to the field I feel a little bit nervous, but after that I enjoy the game and then I try, I do my best and I try to score and I score,” said Nori, who wasn’t the youngest player to make her mark for MFC.
Ariana Gementiza, the MFC program’s 12-year-old standout for its multititled age-group squad, delivered an assist in the victory. Gementiza is the youngest player in the tournament.
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