By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo showed no mercy to Don Bosco Garelli United with an 11-0 beating in the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on Saturday night, August 19.

Marwin Angeles led the way for the Ilonggos with a hat trick, Ricardo Sendra, Abou Sy and Daizo Horikoshi added two goals each, while Nano Amita and Ilonggo Jhan Melliza connected a goal each.

Sendra opened the scoring for Kaya-Iloilo with a header in the ninth minute from a cross by Horikoshi before it was doubled a minute later by Anita’s goal from a missed header by Sy.

Melliza then made it 3-0 for the defending champions as he finished with a header from an Angeles cross in the 15th minute before Sendra notched his second goal before halftime from close range.

Kaya-Iloilo went on with its goal spree in the second half as Angeles fired a low volley into the bottom left corner for a 5-0 lead before Sy scored back-to-back goals in the 61st and 65th minutes.

Horikoshi then tallied his first goal of the conference for the Ilonggos as he sent Fitch Arboleda’s through ball into the back of the net before Angeles drilled back-to-back goals to complete his hat trick.

Kaya-Iloilo were not yet done with their goal onslaught as Horikoshi knocked in his second goal of the game in the 80th minute as he eluded several Don Bosco Garelli defenders to make his shot.

“Good effort from the team,” Kaya-Iloilo team captain Arboleda. 

“‘Yung sinasabi nga ni coach [Colum Curtis], dapat ‘yung hard work namin ay non-negotiable — kaya nakuha namin ‘yung win,” he added.

With the victory, the Iloilo City-based booters improved to six points on two wins in as many games in Group A, while Don Bosco Garreli United suffered its fifth loss and was eliminated from the playoffs.

Kaya Iloilo will return to the pitch on Saturday, August 26, as they face Philippine Air Force Football Club, which is in second place in the group with six points on two victories against lone loss./ASC, WDJ