Defending champ Air Force gets early test as UFL opens

MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion Air Force Phoenix gets an early test Saturday when it clashes with powerhouse Kaya at the start of the UFL league competition at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Kick off is at 4 p.m. with the Airmen looking to stamp their class against a beefed-up Kaya side just a month after winning the UFL Cup.

While Kaya, which reached the semifinals of the Cup, has bolstered its lineup by signing Southeast Asian Games standout Joshua Beloya and Alu Kigbu from Pachanga, Air Force hardly tinkered with its squad and will be led anew by veterans Ian Araneta, Chieffy Caligdong and Yanti Barsales and shot stopper Edmundo Mercado.

“The match against Kaya will be a good gauge for us to see how well we match up against one of the stronger clubs in the league,” said Caligdong.

Air Force and Kaya didn’t meet in the Cup as it was a group and knockout format and the two teams weren’t bracketed together. In the league however, the two teams will meet each other twice.

“The beauty of the league is that every game, ever goal matters,” Kaya defender Jason Sabio said.

Loyola Meralco, seeking to bounce back after a second-place finish in the Cup, collides with rival Green Archers United at 6 p.m.

Already boasting of a formidable side, the Sparks further upgraded their midfield by acquiring Simon Greatwich and Anton Gonzales.

The three players join Fil-British brothers Phil and James Younghusband and Mark and Matthew Hartmann as well as skipper Patrick Ozaeta in the Loyola side that is expected to improve on its fifth-place finish last season.

Green Archers’ campaign suffered a blow before the season started as skipper Floriano Pasilan is still recovering from surgery, leaving a gaping hole on the attack. Still around to provide the creative influence is former national player Arnie Pasinabo.

Both matches will be aired live by AKTV on IBC13.