UNITED Football League powerhouse Global leaned on the heroics of striker Izzo El-Habbib and goalkeeper Roland Sadia to rule the 2013 Kia Cup Open Division at Alabang Country Club Saturday.
With El-Habbib and Sadia making big plays, Global toppled Green Archers United, 5-3, in the finals for its first Kia Cup title.
El-Habbib equalized in the second half after Tating Pasilan opened the scoring for Green Archers.
Sadia then produced two spectacular saves in the shootout to foil the Archers.
Also the hero of the quarterfinals victory over Air Force, where he scored a late goal to force a shootout, El-Habbib was adjudged Most Valuable Player of the one-day tournament.
Preparing for the United Football League season, Global fielded national team standout Marwin Angeles and new signing Mark Hartmann, who struck twice in the 4-2 victory over De La Salle in the semifinals.
Thriving in the smaller pitch used for the tournament, Angeles also accounted for one goal in the Last Four duel with DLSU.
Global swept the group stage, prevailing over Phil. Air Force B, Nomads A, Iligan Archangels and Greenstars FC, to earn the No. 1 seed in their bracket.