Davao, Kaya FC forge title clash in Copa Paulino

MANILA, Philippines — The Davao Aguilas and Kaya FC Iloilo forged a titular showdown in the inaugural Copa Paulino Alcantara of the Philippines Football League after disposing of their respective semis opponents in contrasting fashion last Sunday.

The Aguilas leaned on the four-goal performance of Korean Kim Sungmin (34’, 52’, 60’, and 74’) to book a comprehensive 6-1 triumph over JPV Marikina in a one-sided affair at Rizal Memorial Stadium. James Younghusband (40’) and Jason de Jong (50’) also joined the scoring fray.

For its part, Kaya escaped with a 3-2 thriller over Stallion Laguna over at Iloilo Sports Center with Senegalese Robert Lopez Mendy delivering a hat trick (4’, 15’, 47’) capped off by the marginal goal.

Davao and Iloilo will clash for the crown on Saturday at Rizal Memorial football stadium with the winner earning not only the distinction as  the PFL’s first-ever Cup titlist but also the right to represent the Philippines in next year’s AFC Cup.

“With this win, the road to AFC stays alive. I’m proud of our players. From the start of the game, we saw the intensity, the grit, and hunger to win the game,” said Iloilo coach Noel Marcaida.

Lopez Mendy gave the Iloilo booters a 2-0 headstart, unleashing a sensational rocket at the fourth minute and a followup header 11 minutes later but Laguna countered with back-to-back strikes by Fitch Arboleda and Carlo Polli to draw level at the end of the first half. Kaya’s Senagalese ace, however, restored the lead for Iloilo two minutes after restart, heading it home off a rebound.