Kaya FC-Iloilo Signs Goalkeeper Kenry Balobo Kaya adds a promising local talent in time for the Copa Paulino Alcantara.

Kaya FC-Iloilo is excited to announce the signing of Kenry Abella Balobo. The 23-year-old shot-stopper immediately shores up Kaya’s goalkeeper rotation and gives the team a proven option behind starter Zach Banzon.

The Cebu native spent his collegiate career with the San Beda Red Booters, winning three Championships (Ang Liga 1st Division: 2018, NCAA: 2017 & 2019) and taking home three Best Goalkeeper Awards (Ang Liga 2nd Division: 2015, Ang Liga 1st Division: 2018, NCAA: 2019). In addition, he also received national team call-ups for the Philippines’ U-19, U-22, and U-23 youth sides.

“I was and still am so grateful that I was considered to be a player by a very prestigious team,” said Balobo. “My initial thought was that I don’t want to waste this opportunity, especially that not everyone is given the privilege to play and represent Kaya FC.”

Kenry will be transferring from a United City FC side that, alongside Kaya, made history last year as the first Filipino clubs to qualify for the AFC Champions League Group Stage. Prior to that, he made his professional debut for the San Beda-affiliated Mendiola FC 1991 in the PFL Bubble. That was where Iloilo got a chance to see his prowess between the sticks first-hand, in true heartbreaking fashion.

In what was a must-win game for Kaya to stay in championship contention, Mendiola battled for a 0-0 draw to split points and effectively put the title out of reach. Balobo stepped up in a big way in that match, cutting off shooting angles and making big saves to keep his sheet clean—much to Iloilo’s chagrin.

Now that he’s rocking the yellow and black, however, it’ll be exciting to see performances like that one with him minding our goal instead. The resilience and toughness that caused Kaya fans much pain two seasons ago will now become cause for celebration moving forward.

“I was excited to meet them and I was so happy they welcomed me as a family during my first week,” Kenry stated. “It’s going to be a rough season, every team wants to win. After all, everyone exerted effort and sacrificed a lot but you can definitely count that Kaya FC will give more than 100% this season.”

“Expect that hardworking kid from Cebu to be confident & motivated to get that clean sheet every game,” he added. “[I] will definitely bring honor to the team at the end of the season and in the seasons to come!”