Kaya-Iloilo and the Azkals Development Team aim to deliver a fitting climax to two weeks of competitive football when they play for the Copa Paulino Alcantara title on Friday, November 19, 2021.
Kickoff is at 7:45 p.m. inside the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite, with Kaya looking to win its first trophy since 2018 and ADT going for the biggest achievement since being formed as a developmental squad last year.
The final will also be a rematch of the Copa opener last November 7 which saw Kaya producing a 2-0 victory over ADT.Second half goals from Daizo Horikoshi and Simone Rota were enough to fend off ADT’s upset bid.
But Kaya coach Yu Hoshide is prepared for a huge challenge from ADT, which bounced back from that loss to win its next two matches, including a 2-1 comeback over Stallion-Laguna in the semifinals.
“It will be a really, really difficult game against ADT. But of course we want to win,” said Hoshide, who won six domestic trophies as a midfielder for Global.
Kaya hopes to savor the championship feeling for the first time since 2018 when it captured the inaugural Copa. Standing in its way will be the ADT side that will deal with the absence of team captain Jarvey Gayoso due to a hamstring injury.
Gayoso has been ruled out of the final, putting ADT in a tough position to find at least one or two players who can fill the void.
Coach Jovanie Villagracia, however, believes ADT can find ways to overcome the obstacle of being without the tournament’s top goalscorer.
“We don’t have our key player, but the players have shown they can step up and deliver,” Villagracia said in Filipino.
Team captain Jovin Bedic and Japanese winger Daizo Horikoshi, who combined for five of Kaya’s eight goals, are expected to play big roles on the attack.
Kenshiro Daniels, Arnel Amita and Ryo Fujii have been solid in the middle while the defensive side will feature the tough Carlyle Mitchell, Rota, veteran Masa Omura and Audie Menzi.
A dilemma, perhaps a good one, is the selection to start at goalkeeper as young Zach Banzon started against ADT before veteran Michael Casas held the fort in wins over Mendiola FC 1991 in the group stage and Dynamic Herb Cebu in the semis.
Yrick Gallantes, who produced the winner in the semifinal, Oliver Bias and Dennis Chung will try to set up chances while young Sandro Reyes could finally show the skills that made him one of the country’s most promising players.
Midfielders Oskari Kekkonen and Troy Limbo and defensive backs Christian Rontini, Mar Diano and Matthew Custodio are keen on stepping up while confidence is high for goalkeeper Quincy Kameraad after his timely saves against Stallion in extra time.