Stallion-Laguna. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Stallion-Laguna and Kaya-Iloilo atoned for disappointing setbacks to begin their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) club campaigns with convincing victories over UAAP teams to close out the group stage of the Copa Paulino Alcantara.
Yuta Nomura had a hat trick while Finn McDaniel had a brace as Stallion pummeled Adamson University, 9-1, on Sunday at Philippine Football Federation (PFF) National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite to emerge as the top team in Group B.
Mar Diano, Jovin Bedic and Jhan-Jhan Melliza scored inside the first 13 minutes before Abou Sy struck twice in the second half as Group A winner Kaya rolled over Far Eastern University, 5-1, the following day at Rizal Memorial Stadium in a battle between the champions of the Philippines Football League and UAAP.
The two teams played barely a week after Kaya fell 3-1 to China’s Shandong Taishan in the AFC Champions League and Stallion suffered a 5-2 defeat to Indonesia’s Bali United in the AFC Cup.
Kaya and Stallion are slated to resume their continental stints next week, but will first set their sights on the first leg of the quarterfinal phase on Friday at Rizal Memorial.
Kaya battles University of the Philippines, the only UAAP side to reach past the group stage after being one of the two best third placers.
Stallion, on the other hand, meets fellow PFL club Maharlika-Manila, which like UP competed in Group B and finished second.
Other quarterfinal pairings slated Saturday pit Group B winner Dynamic Herb Cebu facing Group C third-placer Mendiola FC 1991 while Group A runner-up CF Manila and tackling Group C second-placer Davao Aguilas in a showdown of teams outside the PFL or UAAP.