“Kalaro kita, hindi kalaban”

By Joel Bartolome

THE 2025 Inter-Ateneo Football Friendlies (IAF) kicks off on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Metro Naga Sports Complex in Naga City.

Over 200 Ateneo football alumni are expected to participate in this latest edition of what is becoming to be the fastest growing alumni-based football tournament in the country. Alumni from the five Ateneo universities (Davao,

Manila, Naga, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga) will compete in two separate divisions to crown this year’s champions. The host team of Ateneo de Naga University is expected to defend the Championship Crown in the 48-Up Age Group while the 40-Up Age Group current champs Ateneo de Manila University is expected to fiercely repel other teams from taking its crown. At stake is a 24-inch trophy designed by an ADNU alumni and a year-long bragging rights.

The league’s unofficial motto “Kalaro kita, hindi kalaban” is incidentally a phrase coined by another ADNU alumni, coach and Mindanao Peace Games convenor: Noli Ayo. True to the Jesuit ideals of “magis” (which means to strive for “more” or “better”), matches are expected to be intensely played with former national team members and college varsity members in attendance mixed with a good number of weekend warriors.

The event is to be capped by the Awards Night at the plush Abaca Ballroom of the UMA Hotel + Residences.

The IAF Naga 2025 is presented by our Gold Sponsor: The RFDG Law represented by Atty Reagan de Guzman of the Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1985.

Major sponsors: Rebisco, the Bistro Group, La Filipina Canned Goods, Toby’s Sports, UMA Hotel+Residence and Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1988.

Community sponsors: Camarines Sur Multi-Purpose Cooperative Pocari Sweat, Ateneo de Naga General Alumni Association, ADNU HS Batch 1985, ADNU HS Batch 1990, ADNU HS Batch 1995, Air Lloyd Restaurant, Philippine Air Force, Elyongs Grocery, Manulife China Bank, Coca Cola, San Miguel Beer, Ginebra San Miguel, SMART, Maya Philippines, Legazpi Hope Christian School, Rise Coffee, Habitual Coffee, Gold Print, Square Foot Graphics, Vahna Trading and Art, Gian Alyanna Construction, Abayon Immigration and Atty Martin Lacdao.