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Kenry Balobo

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Kenry Balobo
Personal information
Full name Kenry Abella Balobo[1]
Date of birth (1998-09-22) September 22, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Cebu City, Philippines
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Don Bosco Technology Center
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 San Beda University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Mendiola 1991 4 (0)
2021–2022 United City 0 (0)
2022–2024 Kaya–Iloilo 9 (0)
International career
2019 Philippines U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:20, July 31, 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 02:29, July 26, 2024 (UTC)

Kenry Abella Balobo (born 22 September 1998) is a Filipino professional footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for Philippines Football League club Kaya–Iloilo.[2][3]

Youth career

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Balobo was born in Cebu City in the Philippines.[1] In his youth, he played football for Don Bosco Technical College-Cebu (then known as Don Bosco Technology Center)[4][5] and was known for his shot-stopping abilities, especially with penalties.[6][7]

His impressive performances gave him the opportunity to take his career further, and Balobo earned a scholarship to study and play for San Beda University.[8] In his time at San Beda, he won two NCAA football titles in three years, winning a slew of individual awards such as 3 Best Goalkeeper Awards.[9][10]

Club career

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Mendiola

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After graduating from San Beda, Balobo was signed by an club affiliated with San Beda, Mendiola FC 1991 of the Philippines Football League.[11][12] He made his debut on the opening matchday of the 2020 season, a 6–0 loss to United City. In the penultimate match against Kaya, he was at the forefront of the action as he made a number of saves to deny Kaya from scoring, giving United City the 2020 PFL title.[13][14] During Mendiola's match against Maharlika Manila, he was substituted late on in the match as an outfielder.

United City

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United City would be his next destination after the season's end, with the defending champions announcing his signing from Mendiola in early 2021 as part of their preparation for the club's debut in the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage.[15][16][17] United City would end up finishing that season in third, with a win over Beijing Guoan. However, he didn't play in an official match for the club, as they suddenly withdrew from the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara in the latter half of the year.[18]

Kaya–Iloilo

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After his spell at United City, Balobo would sign for Kaya–Iloilo, the club he had shut out two years prior.[9] During his time at the club he played backup to Zach Banzon, Quincy Kammeraad, and Walid Birrou,[8] and slowly racked up 10 PFL appearances over his first two seasons. His stint also saw trophies come to Kaya, with the club winning the PFL back to back in 2022–23[19] and 2024,[20] as well as the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara.[21]

International career

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Philippines U14

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While still playing football in Cebu, Balobo was included by coach Oliver Colina to the Philippines U14 training camp that was being held there, which included members of the team dubbed "The Little Azkals".[22]

Philippines U19

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Four years later, he was called up to the Philippine U19 National Team for the 2016 AFF U19 Championship,[23] though he remained on the bench behind fellow San Beda keeper Michael Asong.

Philippines U23

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In 2019, he represented the country once more as a member of the U23 National Team. He was called up first to the 2019 AFF U22 Championship where he remained on the bench,[24][25] but was called up again for the 2020 AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers,[26] making his debut in between the sticks as the Philippines lost 3–0 to Malaysia.[27]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Kenry Balobo - Global Sports Archive". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  2. ^ Kenry Balobo at Soccerway
  3. ^ "Player Profile: Kenry Balobo". Kaya FC. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  4. ^ Alison, Mars (March 4, 2015). "Cebu City Ninos top CVIRAA". Rappler. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  5. ^ Alison, Mars (March 2, 2015). "Mandaue Football Team Upsets Defending Champions Cebu City Ninos". FullPoint Cebu. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  6. ^ Limpag, Mike (November 16, 2014). "Limpag: Greatest feat of goalkeeping". SunStar. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  7. ^ "Ateneo bags 2 titles". SunStar. November 27, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Living the Dream — Back of the Net with Kenry Balobo". Kaya FC on YouTube. June 22, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Kaya FC-Iloilo Signs Goalkeeper Kenry Balobo". Kaya FC. March 19, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  10. ^ Estrada, Kevin (January 29, 2019). "San Beda regain NCAA football crown on Semblante magic". Dugout PH. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  11. ^ "Mendiola FC ready to reach new heights". Philippines Football League. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  12. ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (November 8, 2020). "Kenry Balobo uses SEAG snub to spur impressive outings for Mendiola '91". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  13. ^ "Mendiola holds Kaya to scoreless draw as UCFC closes in on title". Philippines Football League. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  14. ^ Morales, Luisa (November 6, 2020). "Kaya FC PFL title hopes dwindle after draw vs Mendiola". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "Cebuano goalkeeper Balobo signs with UCFC". SunStar. March 19, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  16. ^ "United City loading up for PFL and AFC Champions League". Philippines Football League. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  17. ^ "Nazari brothers and Hartmann sign for champs United City". ASEAN Football Federation. March 18, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  18. ^ "United City withdraws from Copa Alcantara". Tiebreaker Times. October 31, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  19. ^ "Cebu inflicts 3-2 win over Kaya in Iloilo". Philippines Football League. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  20. ^ "Kaya FC Iloilo - Team Roster". Philippines Football League. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  21. ^ "Kaya 12-0 Garelli: Defending champs show ruthless form". Philippines Football League. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  22. ^ Alison, Mars (February 28, 2012). "CFA booters make it to U14 selection". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  23. ^ "U19 Boys in Hanoi for the AFF U19 Championship 2016". Philippine Football Federation. September 9, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  24. ^ "Philippines Men's Under-22 in AFF U22 Championship 2019". Philippine Football Federation. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  25. ^ "PFF calls up 23 collegiate standouts for 2019 AFF U22". Tiebreaker Times. February 15, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  26. ^ "Philippines Men's Under-23 in AFC U23 Championship 2020 Qualifiers". Philippine Football Federation. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  27. ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (March 22, 2019). "Philippines succumbs to Rashid brace in AFC U-23 qualifying tourney opener". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
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