MANILA – Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo retained the Copa Paulino Alcantara championship after defeating Davao Aguilas-UMAK FC via penalties, 4-3, in a one-game finale on Saturday night at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Mikel Justin Baas delivered the championship-clinching penalty kick for the Iloilo City-based booters as he slotted the ball past the defense of Davao Aguilas-UMAK goal keeper Dini Ouattara.
The connection by Baas was a controversial one as his initial penalty attempt was foiled by Ouattara, but the referees ordered a retake as the Davao Aguilas-UMAK keeper’s foot was outside the box when he saved the kick of Baas.
It was Kaya-Iloilo’s second championship this year after earlier ruling the 2022-2023 Philippines Football League, while it was also the football club’s second consecutive Copa crown.
Kaya-Iloilo started the championship game on a wrong foot as they surrendered a 1-0 lead to Davao Aguilas-UMAK at the half courtesy of a 45th minute header from Yannick Tuazon.
The Iloilo City-based football club, however, managed to level the score in the second half as Nano Amita managed to catch Ouattara’s defense napping for a close range connection.
Kaya-Iloilo had multiple opportunities to break the tie during the remainder of the regulation and until in the two-halves extra time, but Ouattara managed to block away all their attempts.
In the penalties, Davao Aguilas-UMAK managed to take the early lead via a Paolo Bugas hit on the defense of Quincy Kammeraad coupled by a missed attempt from Kaya-Iloilo veteran Robert Lopez Mendy.
Kaya-Iloilo went on to take a 3-1 lead with conversions from Ilonggo captain Jovin Bedic, Daizo Horikoshi and Audie Menzi, and misses from Davao Aguilas-UMAK’s Tuazon and Serge Kaole.
Kart Talaroc and Troy Limbo gave Davao Aguilas-UMAK a lifeline with their back-to-back goal conversions, but the connection from Baas secured the championship for Kaya-Iloilo./PN
