By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
WHILE champions were named, youth athletes and spectators also gathered to celebrate outstanding individual and team achievements during the 2026 President’s Cup Futsal Tournament awards ceremony at the TSL Sports Complex and Saipan Soccer School on Friday.
Recognizing top goal scorers across five youth divisions, along with the tournament’s ultimate symbol of sportsmanship, the ceremony highlighted the depth of emerging athletic talent on the island. It featured the highly anticipated Golden Boot awards alongside the prestigious Team Spirit Award, which honors exemplary teamwork and fair play.
The race for the Golden Boot across the U8 to U17 divisions featured high-scoring performances, multiple ties, and standout efforts from the island’s premier youth clubs, including Kanoa Football Club, MP United Football Club, Matansa Football Club, Paire Football Club, Saipan Soccer School (SSS), and Latte Football Club.
In the U8 coed division, a three-way tie highlighted the girls’ side as Komachi Castro (Kanoa FC), Ezra Leigh Such (Kanoa FC), and Paloma Blue (Paire FC) shared the Golden Boot honor. On the boys’ side, Ched Asuncion of MP United delivered a dominant scoring performance, finishing with 20 goals to claim the award.
The U10 division showcased strong technical development, producing closely contested scoring tallies. Kira George of MP United secured the girls’ award with four goals, while Francis Cabusora of Kanoa FC and Kevin Canolo of SSS shared the boys’ award with five goals each.
Consistency on display
In the U12 division, disciplined individual performances proved decisive. Darshwana Chhetri of Latte FC won the girls’ Golden Boot with two goals, while Liam Palacios of Kanoa FC earned the boys’ honor with five goals.
The U14 division featured another tight contest in the girls’ category, with a three-way tie between Amica Hornilla (Paire FC), Baylyn Mansfield (Matansa FC), and Lovel Spaeth (Paire FC), each finishing with one goal. In the boys’ division, Lashawn Ada of Matansa FC emerged as a dominant attacking force, securing the Golden Boot with 10 goals.
The U17 division closed out the tournament’s individual awards, highlighting players poised for the senior ranks. Iris Rasa of Paire FC claimed the girls’ award with three goals, while Napu Pangelinan (Latte FC) and Izaiah Tenorio (Kanoa FC) shared the boys’ honor with eight goals each.
Beyond the goals and competitive results, the tournament’s spirit was embodied in the Team Spirit Award, recognizing outstanding teamwork and sportsmanship on and off the court.
The award was presented to Paire FC’s U8 team, drawing loud applause from coaches, parents, and fellow competitors for their disciplined play and positive attitude throughout the tournament.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
