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2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara Final

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2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara Final
Event2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara
After extra time
Kaya–Iloilo won 4–3 on penalties
DateDecember 9, 2023
VenueRizal Memorial Stadium, Manila
Man of the MatchDini Ouattara (Davao Aguilas)
RefereeMick Jon Pineda
Attendance1,107
2022
2024

The final of the fifth season of the Copa Paulino Alcantara was contested by Kaya–Iloilo and Davao Aguilas at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. It was the first time the two teams have faced each other since the inaugural final in 2018, where Kaya won 1–0.[1]

Background

[edit]

Due to the restructuring of the PFL by the Philippine Football Federation and Liga Futbol Inc. and the withdrawals of the Azkals Development Team and United City from the league,[2] the 2023 season of the Copa Paulino Alcantara was planned to act as a preview of the upcoming PFL season, with 17 teams participating in the group stages of the tournament that could potentially join the PFL after the tournament's conclusion.[3] All five remaining PFL teams, including Kaya, were the first to confirm their participation in the tournament. Davao, who withdrew from the PFL at the end of the 2018 season, made their return to professional football in the Philippines.[4][5]

Kaya, who lost the previous year's final to United City, were placed in Group A with teams such as UAAP champions Far Eastern University and rivals Loyola, and swept the group, scoring 40 goals and conceding 2.[6][7] Kaya would also win all their knockout stage matches, including an 11–0 beating of the University of the Philippines and a close 4–2 aggregate win over fellow PFL team Stallion Laguna. Davao were placed in Group C and finished second behind Stallion, where they faced fellow new team CF Manila in the quarter-finals, beating them 2–0. In the semi-finals, Davao upset 2022–23 PFL runners-up Dynamic Herb Cebu through a long range strike by midfielder Paolo Bugas, winning the tie 2–1.[7][8]

The final, which was initially scheduled for November 12, was rescheduled to December 9, and will be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, the stadium used for the majority of the tournament's matches.[9] The 2023 final marks the first meeting between Kaya and Davao since the latter lost 1–0 in the final 5 years prior, after which Davao withdrew from the professional football scene for 5 years.[10] Of those who played in the final, Kaya captain Jovin Bedic, defenders Audie Menzi and Camelo Tacusalme, midfielders Marwin Angeles and Arnel Amita, and striker Robert Lopez Mendy are the only players remaining, while none of Davao's 2018 roster are still with the squad. Serge Kaole, who came off the bench for Kaya in extra-time, now captains the Davao side while Marco Casambre, who played as full-back for the Aguilas in 2018, now plays for Kaya. Davao will be without the services of striker Ealwhine Dalam due to a red card the player received during stoppage time in the club's 1–1 semi-final draw with Dynamic Herb Cebu.[11]

Due to the Asian Football Confederation's overhaul of the AFC club competitions, the winner of the final will qualify for the qualifying rounds of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two, potentially dropping down to the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League should they fail to qualify.[12][13]

Route to the final

[edit]
Kaya–Iloilo Round Davao Aguilas
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
Loyola 7–0 Matchday 1 Adamson University 2–0
Don Bosco Garelli 11–0 Matchday 2 Tuloy 5–0
Philippine Air Force 9–1 Matchday 3 Philippine Army 4–3
CF Manila 8–0 Matchday 4 Mendiola 1991 3–3
Far Eastern University 5–1 Matchday 5 Stallion Laguna 0–4
Group A winners
Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Kaya–Iloilo 5 15
2 CF Manila 5 10
3 Philippine Air Force 5 7
4 Far Eastern University 5 6
5 Loyola 5 4
6 Don Bosco Garelli 5 0
Source: [4]
Final standings Group C runners-up
Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Stallion Laguna 5 12
2 Davao Aguilas 5 10
3 Mendiola 1991 5 9
4 Tuloy 5 7
5 Philippine Army 5 3
6 Adamson University 5 1
Source: [4]
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Knockout phase Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
University of the Philippines 11–0 3–0 8–0 Quarter-finals CF Manila 2–0 1–0 1–0
Stallion Laguna 4–2 2–1 2–1 Semi-finals Dynamic Herb Cebu 2–1 1–0 1–1

Match summary

[edit]
External videos
2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara Final
YouTube logo
video icon Copa Paulino Alcantara 2023 Final - Kaya FC-Iloilo vs. Davao Aguilas UMak FC by the Philippines Football League

The final of the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara was held on neutral ground in Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, marking the first final to be played at the stadium since the inaugural final in 2018. Despite being based in Mindanao, Davao had been based in Makati since their reemergence as a professional club, and played their games at the University of Makati Stadium. Due to yellow card accumulations, Davao would be missing defender Pete Forrosuelo and attacker OJ Clariño. Ealwhine Dalam, who received a red card during stoppage time in the club's previous match against Dynamic Herb Cebu, would also be unavailable, while Ivorian defender Yohann Fofana returned from suspension after getting a red card as an unused substitute in the club's first leg match against Cebu. Kaya would be missing the services of national team forward Jarvey Gayoso, who had scored against Chinese side Shandong Taishan in the AFC Champions League a week prior. The match marked the first meeting between the two sides since the 2018 final, which saw Kaya captain Jovin Bedic score the winner in the dying minutes of the game, after which Davao withdrew from the PFL due to then-owner Jefferson Cheng's disagreements on the direction of the league.

Kaya nearly took the lead in the 10th minute, but Audie Menzi's header hit the post. Serge Kaole would forge Davao's first chance of the game 16 minutes later, but Quincy Kammeraad made a vital save. In the 30th minute Dini Ouattara chased down a loose pass and clattered into Arnel Amita, but the penalty shouts were waved off. Davao then took a surprise lead just before halftime as a free kick from Paolo Bugas caught the Kaya defense sleeping, with Yannick Tuason heading home. Kaya would up the tempo in the second half, and eventually got their reward in the 64th minute when Amita sneakily stole the ball off of Ouattara and chipped the ball over the keeper into the net to equalize. Kaya would nearly take the lead 8 minutes later as Yohann Fofana nearly poked the ball into his own net, while Davao defender Nicolas Ferrer Jr. would respond with a long range effort that hit the base of the post with 12 minutes remaining. In the 88th minute, substitute Robert Lopez Mendy, who provided the game-winning assist the last time the two teams met, thought he had scored the winner, but was flagged for offside.

The game ticked over into extra-time, the second time in Copa history that a final had done so, and Kaya would once again find themselves calling for another penalty for a handball on Fofana that was again dismissed. Davao were tiring due to the absence of key players and found themselves on the receiving end of most of the chances, but Ouattara was there to keep them from conceding, first denying an effort from Daizo Horikoshi in the 100th minute, then another effort from Mar Diano through a sea of bodies in the 120th minute. Desperate for a goal, Kaya subbed on captain Jovin Bedic, who scored the winner against Davao 5 years before, and would nearly do so again in the 2nd minute of stoppage time, but his header hit the crossbar and was cleared away by Axel Andres. The match went to penalties, where Paolo Bugas would score the first for Davao, while Ouattara again foiled Kaya and saved Lopez Mendy's penalty. Not to be outdone, Quincy Kammeraad would save two penalties from Tuason and Kaole, giving Kaya midfielder and national team player Justin Baas the opportunity to win a third title for the club. Ouattara again saved the penalty, but was found to be off his line and a retake was ordered, which Baas converted.

The match ended with Kaya triumphing over Davao once again, this time on penalties, to win their third title and first since 2021. Kaya players Audie Menzi and Jovin Bedic broke the record that they set last year of playing in the most finals, having appeared in every single one since 2018. Dini Ouattara, due to his excellent performance, was awarded the "Man of the Match" award, while Kaya forward Abou Sy won the Golden Boot, scoring 10 goals. Kaya's victory capped off a triumphant year for the club, having also won the PFL title in June, the 2023 PFF Women's League in November, and the PFF U18 Boys National Championship Division 2 title earlier that day against Palawan FA.


Kaya–Iloilo1–1 (a.e.t.)Davao Aguilas
  • Amita 64'
Penalties
4–3
Attendance: 1,107
Referee: Mick Jon Pineda
Kaya–Iloilo
Davao Aguilas
GK 1 Philippines Quincy Kammeraad
44 Philippines Audie Menzi Yellow card 85'
3 Japan Akito Saito
23 Philippines Simone Rota downward-facing red arrow 75'
22 Philippines Fitch Arboleda (c) downward-facing red arrow 46'
21 Argentina Ricardo Sendra downward-facing red arrow 75'
16 Philippines Justin Baas
13 Philippines Jesus Melliza downward-facing red arrow 109'
20 Japan Daizo Horikoshi
77 Senegal Abou Sy downward-facing red arrow 67'
10 Philippines Arnel Amita downward-facing red arrow 91'
Substitutes:
GK 2 Philippines Kenry Balobo
5 Philippines Camelo Tacusalme
6 Philippines Mark Swainston
7 Philippines Jovin Bedic upward-facing green arrow 109'
8 Philippines Marwin Angeles upward-facing green arrow 75'
9 Philippines Eric Giganto
12 Philippines Mar Diano upward-facing green arrow 46'
15 Philippines Marco Casambre upward-facing green arrow 75'
17 Senegal Robert Lopez Mendy upward-facing green arrow 67'
19 Philippines Curt Dizon upward-facing green arrow 91'
Head Coach:
Northern Ireland Colum Curtis
GK 16 Ivory Coast Dini Ouattara
14 Philippines Nicolas Ferrer Jr. downward-facing red arrow 120+1'
5 Philippines Reynald Villareal Yellow card 40'
19 Ivory Coast Yohann Fofana Yellow card 112'
13 Philippines Kart Talaroc
11 Philippines Marvin Angeles downward-facing red arrow 86'
8 Philippines Jhomaray Sapal
39 Philippines Paolo Bugas
98 Philippines Troy Limbo
9 Philippines Yannick Tuason
15 Cameroon Serge Kaole (c)
Substitutes:
GK 1 Philippines Kenneth Guballo
2 Philippines Joshua Jalog
3 Philippines John Daohog
4 Philippines Santino Rosales
10 Philippines Billy Alcantara
12 Philippines Rendon Cielo
17 Philippines Richard Talaroc upward-facing green arrow 86'
18 Philippines Romel Catarinin
20 Philippines Francis Villa
21 Philippines Christian Bacara
27 Philippines Axel Andres upward-facing green arrow 120+1'
29 Philippines Gansmari Antipuesto
Head Coach:
Philippines Aber Ruzgal

References

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  1. ^ Terrado, Jonas (October 24, 2018). "Davao, Iloilo in title clash". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  2. ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (February 16, 2023). "United City pulls out of PFL due to investor issues". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "PFL Comm'r Torre aims league growth with expanded Copa". Dugout Philippines. June 2, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Expanded 17-team Copa Paulino Alcantara to start 15 July". Philippines Football League. June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  5. ^ "17 teams to compete in rejigged Copa Paulino Alcantara". CNN Philippines. July 14, 2023. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  6. ^ Stewart, Adrian (September 27, 2023). "Kaya-Iloilo dominates FEU in Copa Paulino Alcantara". Panay News. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Copa Paulino Alcantara 2023 - Draw Ceremony. Philippines Football league. June 17, 2023. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Rosal, Glendale (November 4, 2023). "Cebu Football Club draws Davao Aguilas, gets booted out of Copa Alcantara". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "Tomorrow is the day!". Twitter. Philippines Football League. December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  10. ^ Biantan, Jack (December 14, 2018). "Davao Aguilas-Belmare FC Quits PFL". Pinoyfootball. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  11. ^ Copa Paulino Alcantara 2023 - SF Leg 2 - Davao Aguilas UMak FC vs. Dynamic Herb Cebu FC. Philippines Football league. November 3, 2023 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "History beckons for AFC Cup 2023/24 contenders as final edition of popular competition kicks off". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. September 15, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "Asian Champions League to relaunch with fewer teams and more prize money in 2024-25 season". AP News. August 14, 2023.