Kaya lifts first Copa Alcantara plum
The ending couldn’t have been written any better for Kaya Iloilo.
Homegrown star Joven Bedic knocked in the match winner in the 118th minute as Kaya subdued 10-man Davao Aguilas, 1-0, on Saturday night to lift the first Copa Paulino Alcantara at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Born and raised in Barotac Nuevo, Bedic popped up inside the area to redirect a low cross from Robert Lopez Mendy as the Iloilo side prevailed in a nip-and-tuck battle for the trophy named after the greatest Filipino player of all time, who incidentally, also hails from Iloilo.
“Games against Davao are always tough and last night’s final proved to be no different,” said Kaya coach Chris Greatwich.
With the victory, Kaya also clinched the second spot for the Philippines in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
It was another heartbreaking finish for the Aguilas, particularly skipper Phil Younghusband, who missed out on another major domestic trophy.
