Kaya Futbol Iloilo made their presence felt in the opening of Copa Paulino Alcantara, defeating Azkals Development Team (ADT), Sunday at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite, 2-0.
The Iloilo-based team broke through in the second half with goals from Daizo Horikoshi and Simone Rota to take full points in the first game of the cup, surging to the top of Group B.
Both teams started with a sluggish opening with most of the players defending each other. The ADT staved off the Kaya FC attack in the first half but Horikoshi finally found the back of the net in the 54th minute when he converted a cross from Audie Menzi. It was Horikoshi’s first goal for his club.
Rota doubled the lead in the 71st minute to ensure the victory for Kaya, before helping anchor their defense to prevent the ADT from scoring a consolation goal.
The Ilonggos are hoping to regain their loss crown. Kaya FC won the inaugural Copa Paulino Alcantara in 2018 before losing to United City FC (then Ceres Negros) in 2019. The Copa was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iloilo is being tipped as the favored team in the bubble tournament with previous Copa champion United City Football Club decided not to participate this season.
Kaya-Iloilo team manager Jim Jamlang said the squad has been hungry to emerge on top anew after settling for runner up finishes the past few tournaments.
“Our goal is really to win the championship. We want to make our Ilonggo football fans proud,” Jamlang said in an interview with Ilonggo Pablito Araneta at “Gametime: A Sports Podcast”.
Barotac Nuevo Iloilo-native Jovin Bedic said the players were ready and would draw inspiration and learnings from their 2021 AFC Champions League campaign in Thailand.IMTSports
