DEFENDING Copa Paulino Alcantara champion Kaya FC-Iloilo began its title defense on a winning note, going away as a 5-0 winner over Philippine Air Force FC in the tournament opener on Oct. 26 at the Aboitiz Pitch in Lipa City, Batangas.
Getting two goals from midfielder Kenshiro Daniels (33’ and 62’), Kaya proved to be a handful for the tournament newbie Airmen, who just could not recover after going down 0-3 in the opening half of the contest.
Providing goals as well for Kaya in the win were Jayson Panhay (29’), Connor Tagcani (37’) and Marwin Angeles (69’).
Kaya tries to make it two wins in a row in the Cup when it takes on Stallion Laguna FC on Nov. 6.
Meanwhile, three-time Philippines Football League champion Ceres-Negros FC had to settle for a 2-2 draw in its opener versus Mendiola FC 1991 also on Saturday.
Robert Lopez Mendy got the Busmen to a solid start, connecting on two goals in the fourth and 31st minute to hand his team a 2-0 lead early.
But they would not be able to hold on to the lead as Mendiola fashioned out a fight back.
Mendiola was able to trim its deficit into half, 2-1, just before the break (45+1’) with Hamed Hajimahdo providing the goal.
Papuh Corsame then levelled the count at 2-2 in the 64th minute.
With the outcome of the match still open, the teams tried to go for the go-ahead but their attempts did not produce favorable results, forcing them to settle for the draw and a point each from the match.
Ceres next plays on Oct. 30 against the Philippine Under-22 team while Mendiola also returns on said date versus Green Archers United FC.
Named after Filipino-Spanish football great Paulino Alcantara who played for FC Barcelona, the Cup runs until Nov. 16.
The 2019 Cup tournament has seven teams competing, including the Philippine U22 team set to see action in the 30th Southeast Asia Games later this year here as guest squad.
The teams are divided into two groups with Ceres heading Group A along with Green Archers United, Mendiola and the U22 squad while Kaya is in Group B, joined by Air Force and Stallion.
Tournament format has the teams meeting their group mates once with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals with the group winners facing the runner-up teams from the other group. The higher seeded teams will host the one-off semifinals. The final will consist of a single match as well.
The Copa Paulino Alcantara is shown livestream over www.pfltv.ph and on Facebook live (Philippines only). — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
