By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo moved closer to the 2023 Philippines Football League (PFL) coronation after a 5-1 victory over Maharlika Manila Football Club at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite on Saturday, May 20.
Ilonggo team captain Jovic Bedic, brothers Tamon and Daizo Horikoshi, Dylan Nobiraki, and Fitch Arboleda scored a goal each to lead the way for the Iloilo City-based booters.
Following misses from both teams to start the game, Nobiraki drew first blood for Kaya-Iloilo when he scored from close range after receiving a cross from Daizo at the 11th minute mark.
Daizo was once again responsible for the second conversion of Kaya-Iloilo as he saw younger brother Tamon charging to the goal area to make it a 2-0 score in the 26th minute.
Just before the halftime break, Kaya-Iloilo knocked in two more goals courtesy of Arboleda in the 39th minute from a pass by Audie Menzi and Bedic in the 45th minute from the penalty box.
Kaya-Iloilo made it 5-0 early in the second half as Daizo calmly drained the goal inside the box in the 60th minute. Maharlika Manila managed to pull one back via an Ibrahima N’Dour goal in the 71st minute.
Kaya-Iloilo head coach Yu Hoshide said his team looked recharged heading into their last two matches this season following the three-week league break to give way to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
“It is honestly difficult to keep motivation and condition when we cannot play a game for three weeks during the season,” Hoshide said.
“But the players did their best to stay focused, and for that I really appreciate them,” he added.
With the victory, Kaya-Iloilo maintained their hold on the top spot of the standings with 52 points, on 17 victories, one draw and three losses, while Maharlika Manila is in last place with four points, on one win, one draw and 17 losses.
The Iloilo City-based football club will look to capture their first-ever PFL championship when they face Stallion-Laguna FC to close out their tournament on Saturday, May 27./ASC, WDJ