Stallion-Laguna is dedicating its quest to end a near-decade wait for a silverware to long-time club captain Ruben “Balot” Doctora, who opted to skip the Copa Paulino Alcantara due to personal reasons.
Coach Ernie Nierras’ side made sure that Doctora would be there in spirit after the starting 11 brought out his famous No. 9 shirt prior to Stallion’s Group A match against newcomer Dynamic Herb Cebu at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
“For personal reasons, we understand that he has to take care of his family and everything,” Nierras said after the Horsemen secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.
“That’s why when we came out, we had this shirt with us. We wanna make sure that we show our respect,” added the Stallion coach, who hopes to have Doctora back for the Philippines Football League season in 2022.
The 35-year-old native of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo helped Stallion begin its foray into top-flight football in 2011 by securing promotion to the first division of the old United Football League.
Doctora also had a major role in Stallion’s biggest achievement when it won a rare UFL cup and league double in the 2012-13 season.
He scored the opening goal in Stallion’s 2-1 win over Global in the 2012 Cup Final, before combining with the likes of Spaniard Rufo Sanchez, South Korean Lee Joo-Young and current holdover Nate Alquiros to capture the 2013 league crown.
Doctora remained a respected figure for both his club and the rest of the local football scene even as Stallion transitioned to the PFL in 2017.
The victory over Cebu not only secured the Group A top spot, but reaffirmed Stallion’s status as one of the contenders in the short competition.
It also wants nothing more than to make Doctora proud by the time the Copa comes to a conclusion.