ASIDE from the chance to represent the country in the AFC Cup, Kaya Iloilo is determined to claim the crown in the 2018 Philippine Football League Copa Paulino Alcantara in honor of an Ilonggo football legend.
Kaya Iloilo head coach Noel Marcaida said an added motivation for his ward is the tournament being named after Filipino-Spanish football legend Paulino Alcantara, who was born in Concepcion, Iloilo in 1896.
“It’s an honor to represent Iloilo in the Copa Paulino Alcantara,” Marcaida said in an interview. “We want to honor Paulino Alcantara who was born in Iloilo.”
Marcaida added that his squad refused to be pressured despite being tagged as the favored team in Group B as they were bracketed with JPV Marikina and Global Cebu, which both struggled in the League.
“It’s a new tournament. Whatever the result of the league, it doesn’t matter anymore. Going into the Cup, we’ll be playing against teams — especially Global FC — that will be completely different,” Marcaida said.
“The approach of Kaya in the Cup is: no complacency. We have to approach every game with the intention to play to our full capacity,” added the veteran football mentor.
Kaya Iloilo co-team captain Miguel Tanton, for his part, said he expects every match to be tough with other teams also busy piling up victories to earn a semifinals slot.
“I think all my teammates and all the players from the different clubs are familiar with one another. And with this tournament format, friendships aside, everyone knows it’s do-or-die, so the concentration and the competitiveness is going to be there,” he said.
Kaya Iloilo are currently on top of Group B with six points after winning their first two matches. The Ilonggos will return to action on Wednesday against Global Cebu tonight at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
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Four Bacolod City-based squads have earned a slot into the National Finals after ruling their respective divisions in in the Bacolod leg of the Wilson 3×3 Basketball Challenge recently at the Trinity Christian School in Bacolod City.
The said squads will be representing Bacolod City in the Wilson 3×3 Basketball Challenge Nationals in May 2019 at the San Juan Arena, according to tournament head organizer Tobee Diaz de Leon-Abad.
Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts, composed of Dylan Benedict Despi, Johanan Raymond Caster, John Ordas and Marvin delos Santos ruled the 13-and-under category by defeating Talisay Knights, 19-13, in the finals.
The Team Sharks of Paul Adrian Barcelona, Joaquin Lorenzo Lacson, Gerry Binguan, and Alfred Ysulan claimed the 10 and under after sweeping all of their oppositions, including in the finals.
Team Integros of Joseph Matthew Escalante, JM delos Santos, Von Kyrel Madayac and Kyle Miguel Macias claimed the 16-and-under trophy, while NYBC of Kelvin Sean Gealon, Ken Tagikawa Jr., Ron Mirasol, and Paul Hilado topped the 19-and-under.
After Bacolod City, the 3×3 basketball qualifiers will also play in other parts of Western Visayas in Roxas City on Oct. 20, Antique on Oct. 27 and Iloilo City on Nov. 3./PN
