–PFL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The crucial advantage is what the four remaining clubs are eyeing Saturday when the two-legged semifinals of the Copa Paulino Alcantara kick off at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Two-time winner Kaya-Iloilo and Stallion-Laguna square off in the twinbill curtain raiser at 4 p.m. before Dynamic Herb Cebu faces Davao Aguilas-University of Makati, the only side of the Philippines Football League to make it this far, at 7 p.m.
Like in the quarterfinals, the teams that have the edge in the aggregate score after two legs will progress to a one-game Final in mid-November.
Kaya is hoping to keep the streak of being in the Final of each Copa since winning the inaugural edition in 2018. It also won the pandemic-shortened 2021 tourney and settled for runner-up finishes in 2019 and 2022.
The 2023 PFL champions have been in cruise control since the tournament began last August, winning all five matches with a +38 goal difference before taking down University of the Philippines in the quarters with 11 goals while conceding none in the two legs.
–PFL PHOTO
Out to prevent Kaya is Stallion, which also made the Final Four convincingly at the expense of Maharlika-Manila in the quarters. The Horsemen are in the Copa semis for the third straight time, aching to improve on their third place showing in 2021 and 2022.
Kaya and Stallion will face off before heading overseas to play in their respective Asian Football Confederation (AFC) club competitions.
It’s the same scenario for Cebu, which likewise seeks to take the first step in its quest to reach the first Copa Final of the club’s young existence. The Gentle Giants both placed fourth in 2021 and 2022.
Cebu came off a two-legged triumph over Mendiola FC 1991 after winning all four games in the group stage.
Davao needed a pair of 1-0 wins to eliminate CF Manila in the quarters to move closer towards a return trip to the Copa Final.
The Aguilas lost to Kaya during the 2018 Final when they were still a part of the PFL loop.