Kaya FC Iloilo warmed up for its back-to-back showdowns with leader Ceres Negros with a 4-2 drubbing of Stallion-Laguna last Wednesday in the Philippines Football League at Iloilo Sports Complex.
Barotac Nuevo-born striker Joven Bedic completed a hat-trick as Kaya cut the gap with Ceres to just nine points with two matches against the defending champions at home coming up on Saturday and Wednesday.
With Ceres on top with 41 points and Kaya in second with 32, the two matches could potentially determine the league champions who will also earn a berth to the AFC Champions League next season.
Ceres only has eight matches left in its 25-game schedule, while Kaya still has to play nine games.
After Robert Lopez Mendy opened the scoring from close range, Bedic drilled home a penalty before two quick-fire goals in the second half put the game beyond reach for Stallion.
“It’s the best feeling to score a hat-trick at home,” Bedic said in Filipino after Kaya also secured a third straight victory. “The support from the Ilonggos is something else here. That’s why when the games are held here, we all have that extra energy to play well and to win.”