The 2023 edition of the Copa Paulino Alcantara kicked off last weekend at the Rizal Memorial Stadium with four matches that set the tone of the group stages, with Philippine Air Force and Club de Futbol Manila collecting wins in Group A while Tuloy and Davao Aguilas-UMak impressing in Group C.
All four matches was witnessed by a capacity crowd at the Rizal Memorial Stadium and worldwide as the live-streaming for all four matches averaged 1,000 viewers from kick-off until the final whistle.
Air Force takes flight; Tuloy impress in Cup debut
Philippine Air Force FC started the proceedings with a 1-0 win over Don Bosco Garelli United FC in Saturday’s first match.
Forward Dari Poderoso scored the winner in the 47th minute for Philippine Air Force, but it was the heroics of Garelli substitute goalkeeper Adrian De Sola that preserved the scoreline with a series of saves to keep the scoreline close.
Saturday’s second double header saw Tuloy FC come away unscathed after a thrilling 3-2 win over the returning Philippine Army FC.
John Levis Sajor handed Tuloy the lead in the 17th minute, but Jimuel Ariola answered two quickfire goals in the 23rd and 27th minutes to put Philippine Army ahead at the half.
Sajor, drew level once more in the 48th minute with a delightful chip over John Kent Delariarte, and went on the ascendancy in the second half as Tuloy searched on for a winner.
Substitute James Demate completed the turnaround in the 89th minute. John Lloyd Jalique sparked the counter attack on the left flank and found Cyrelle Saut on the opposite side, who placed the ball for Demate to convert from close range.
Knowing how big a win this was for Tuloy FC in their debut, Sajor waxed emotional after the match.
“Even if most of us in the team are street children, we want to show that we can take it against the top teams in the Cup,” said Sajor.
Davao whips Adamson; Club de Futbol Manila powers past Loyola
Davao Aguilas-UMak FC marked their return in the cup scene with a 2-0 win over Adamson University in Sunday’s encounter.
Serge Kaole scored first for Davao Aguilas off a rebound from Kart Talaroc’s strike in the 59th minute.
Rendon Cielo doubled the lead in the 74th minute. Talaroc was once again involved in the play as his pass across the face of goal found the forward for the finish.
“It was quite challenging and we can’t stop working as all teams have prepared for this competition,” said Davao Aguilas-UMak head coach Aber Ruzgal.
“It was a result of the hard work of the team,” said Kaole. “They gave us a hard time but luckily we were able to score.”
Club de Futbol Manila opened their account with a strong second half performance to defeat ten-man Loyola FC, 2-0, in the second match.
After a scoreless first half, the match turned on its head after Loyola goalkeeper Javi Coscolluela given a red card after a strong challenge on Frank Semilla mere seconds after the start of the second half.
Despite going down to ten men, Loyola held its nerve but CF Manila found the breakthrough in the 76th minute. The forward’s initial header off a Stephan Schrock corner was denied by the crossbar, but the rebound fell back to Umilin’s path to head it in.
Benjie Panotes put the result beyond doubt to score the second goal with a header, off another Schrock corner, in the 83rd minute.
“It was a good start for us, with the three points we expected the result but we still have things to improve on certain aspects,” said CF Manila head coach Frank Muescan. ”We’re expecting a good performance going to our next matches.