KAYA FC-Iloilo is going to the AFC Cup next year after completing a hard-earned victory in the final of the Copa Paulino Alcantara on Saturday night, an achievement that the team takes special pride in and savors as it was a culmination of the hard work it put in all tournament long to see its goal through.
Beating Davao Aguilas FC, 1-0, in extra time in the final played at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium at the weekend, Kaya earned not only the inaugural title for the Copa Paulino Alcantara but also a spot in the 2019 edition of the AFC Cup.
Joven Bedic scored the marginal goal for Kaya in the 118th minute of the match, averting what would have been a shootout.
Following the game, the champions could not hide their pleasure and satisfaction over what they had accomplished, highlighting how they really wanted to get the inaugural title in more ways than one.
“What a finals. I think this is the type of finals that football fans should not miss. Since Day One, we have always been saying that we want to go to the AFC Cup. And along the way we had a lot of challenges, including injuries. We just really worked hard,” said Kaya coach Noel Marcaida in the post-match press conference.
“Apart from getting back to the AFC Cup, what makes this win special is we get to honor Paulino Alcantara, who was from Iloilo. And being a representative of Iloilo this really matters a lot for us,” added the coach, referring to Filipino-Spanish football great Alcantara who played for FC Barcelona and whom the Cup tournament of the Philippines Football League was named after.
Kaya and Davao fought hard throughout the contest, not budging went pushed in the full 90 minutes of regulation and three minutes stoppage time.
The nip-and-tuck affair continued in extra time until Mr. Bedic broke through in the 118th minute, converting an excellent pass from teammate Robert Lopez Mendy, who recovered from losing his footing to keep the ball in play.
After seeing how his wards delivered, Mr. Marcaida said credit should be given a lot to his players for showing resilience and focus.
“We were able to set the tone early, the players were resilient. All throughout the 120 minutes the players were focused and in the closing minutes Joven scored,” said Mr. Marcaida, who also paid tribute to the Kaya management and support team for working hard as well to make their campaign a success.
For game hero Bedic, to score in the final was a feeling all its own and said that his teammates, too, should also be given props.
“It’s the best feeling to score every time but this one is special because it is the final. Since Day One, everybody showed tremendous hard work and sacrifice. Everyone wanted to play even those who were not in the lineup,” the Kaya player said.
“I can’t explain the feeling. I’m so happy to win and be back as champion,” he added.
Looking ahead, Mr. Marcaida said they will start preparing for the AFC Cup after taking some break.
“It was a great 2018 for us. We’ll enjoy first and start preparing for the AFC Cup. It’s a great feeling as a coach to take his team to an international competition like the AFC Cup. It was a collective effort and we deserve this win,” said Mr. Marcaida.
Kaya last saw action in the AFC Cup in 2016, along with Ceres-Negros FC, where it reached the round of 16 before being eliminated. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
