BRYANT Julyant Monsanto has made a mark for himself after becoming the the lone Cebuano homegrown talent in the 2026 U-17 Philippine Men’s National Football Team set to compete in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Bryant Julyant, 16, the son of Balamban businessman Bryant and Jomilyn Monsanto began playing with the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Football Club in Balamban and Balamban FC and began joining tournaments in Cebu.
In one tournament where the visiting Makati Football Club also joined, his talent was spotted by MFC coaches and he got an invitation.
The doors opened for Julyant Monsanto’s career development when he competed in local tournaments in Cebu, where his football talent was first noticed.
“In 2023, the coach/owner of Makati FC came to Cebu to join a tournament, and that’s where he was discovered. His former coaches in Cebu were also the ones who introduced him. At first, he didn’t want to go because he would be alone. He was still very young when he went to Manila – around 12 or 13 years old, and it was his first time traveling alone. We really encouraged him to just try because it would be a waste of opportunity,” told IsportStaBai.
Indeed, Julyant did not waste the opportunity and left for the capital carrying the hope that his dream would come true. And two years later, he has made it to the national squad.
“When we read the letter from the PFF saying he made it, we got goosebumps. All his hard work far from home paid off. He was alone in Manila at such a young age, and then he achieved becoming part of the national team. We are extremely happy,” said his father of the call-up letter they received on March 29.
The letter from the Philippine Football Federation, dated March 29, 2026, stated:
“We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as part of the U-17 Philippine Men’s National Football Team under the Philippine Football Federation.
The team will be competing in the Asean U17 championships and is grouped with Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Australia in Group B.
“We are honored that a Cebuano has again made it to the national team, this shows that the football scene in Cebu and the grassroots program of the different clubs are bearing fruits,” said Central Visayas Regional Football Association head Rodney Orale.