KAYA FC-Iloilo and Davao Aguilas FC got their respective campaigns at the Copa Paulino Alcantara to a winning start, taking their tournament debuts at the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Iloilo-based Kaya defeated Global Cebu FC, 4-0, in Group B while the Aguilas got the better of two-time Philippines Football League champion Ceres-Negros FC, 3-1, in Group A in the kickoff double header on Saturday of the first-ever staging of the tournament named after the legendary Filipino-Spanish footballer Alcantara.
Robert Lopez Mendy scored a hat trick for Kaya to get their Copa bid rolling with Miguel Tanton adding another goal in the victory.
Kaya was aggressive to start the match with its efforts finally bearing fruit in the 23rd minute with Mr. Mendy curled the ball to the net to break the nil-nil tie.
Global did well in containing the bleeding and just be down, 1-0, by the halftime break.
In the second half though, things would open up for Kaya with Mr. Tanton scoring on a free kick early at the 49th minute to make it 2-0.
Then Mr. Mendy scored the second of his hat trick six minutes later before sealing the deal for Kaya with another goal in the 62nd minute.
The hat trick was the third this year for Mr. Lopez Mendy, and first in the Copa Paulino Alcantara, with Kaya, which finished runner-up in the recent PFL season.
“We’re happy to get the three points. We played the first half and the first 25 minutes of the second half really well. It was a mixed game, where we employed different approaches. In terms of objective, we were able to get the three points. But moving forward, if we really want to win the Copa Paulino Alcantara, we need to sustain it for 90 minutes,” said Kaya head coach Noel Marcaida following their win.
AGUILAS WIN
Meanwhile, Davao dug deep to book its first win at the expense of powerhouse Ceres in the night cap.
Matthew Hartmann, Phil Younghusband and Tahj Minniecon provided the goals for the Aguilas as they fended off the “Busmen.”
Ceres had its chances to start the match but could not complete them and saw it beaten to the punch for the opening goal in the 38th minute when Mr. Hartmann found the bottom of the net.
Two minutes later, Mr. Younghusband scored for Davao to make it 2-0 heading into the halftime break.
Ceres opened the second half with urgency and was consequently rewarded with a goal in the 54th with Blake Powell on the scoring end to narrow the gap, 2-1.
The two teams battled after with the Aguilas eventually creating more breathing space, 3-1, in the 76th minute care of Mr. Minniecon. It was a lead they would hold on to the rest of the way.
The Copa Paulino Alcantara has all six teams in the PFL, divided into two groups, competing and trying to win the title and earn a spot in the 2019 AFC Cup.
Making up Group A are Ceres, Stallion Laguna FC and Davao while Group B has Kaya, JPV Marikina FC and Global.
Copa Paulino Alcantara matches will be played from Sept. 1 to Oct. 27 in various venues, including Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila and the Philippine Football Federation Training Center in Carmona, Cavite. Matches will be streamed live over PFLTV.ph. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
