Big twinbill kicks off UFL action Tuesday

THERE’S no “Group of Death” but defending champion Air Force, league titlist Global and Loyola Meralco still expect a dogfight in the group stage of the United Football League Cup kicking off Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

In a pair of explosive matches, Global starts its Group A campaign against a Pasargad side that made its mark in the second half of last season in the 5 p.m. opener, before Group B top team Kaya takes on Green Archers United.

Global beefed up its lineup by adding Denis Wolf, the hat-trick hero for the Philippine Azkals against Macau Tuesday night, and national players Demit-rius Omphroy and Matthew Uy to cushion the blow of the departure of Angel Guirado.

Kaya remains formidable with Aly Borromeo, Jason Sabio and Anton del Rosario leading the squad, along with newcomers Antonio Ugarte, Sean Iliff and Dario Dakic.

The Sparks, who lost to Air Force in the Cup final last year and wound up third in the league, landed in Group C with Nomads, second division champion Pachanga, Laos and Mendiola, while Air Force is bracketed with Stallion, Army, Sta. Lucia and Agila in Group D.

Also in Group A are Navy, General Trias FC and Socceroo, while Diliman, Forza and Dolphins complete Group B.

“They are fairly evenly matched groups,” said UFL chair Santi Araneta after the draw yesterday at Greenbelt 3 in Makati. “There are no sure bets here.”

UFL television partner Sports 5 said that games will be shown on a prime time slot twice a week on weekdays on AKTV on IBC 13, unlike last season when only Saturday matches were aired live.

“We’re excited to say that the UFL will now be shown twice a week,” said Sports 5 executive Vitto Lazatin.