By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo made its way to the semifinals round of the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara after an 8-0 rout of the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in leg 2 of the two-leg quarterfinals at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on Sunday night, October 8.

Overall, the Iloilo City-based football club won the quarterfinals with an aggregate score of 11-0 after scoring a 3-0 victory over the Fighting Maroons in the first leg over a week ago.

Abou Sy and Eric Giganto spearheaded the offense for Kaya-lloilo with two goals each, while Mar Diano, Justin Baas, Robert Lopez-Mendy, and Curt Dizon added a conversion each in the leg 2 win.

After missing their first few attempts, Kaya-Iloilo opened the scoring in the 39th minute courtesy of a Diano header before it was followed by a connection by Sy four minutes later.

The goal spree continued as Baas fired one from the edge of the box to make it 3-0 in the 44th minute before Kaya-Iloilo closed the first half with the second conversion by Sy from close range.

Kaya-Iloilo widened the lead further in the second half as Lopez-Mendy knocked in a header from a pass by Jovin Bedic in the 63rd minute as the defense of the Fighting Maroons crumbled.

Just before the end of the match, Kaya-Iloilo knocked in three more connections courtesy of newcomer Dizon in the 86th minute, followed by back-to-back strikes from Giganto for an 8-0 score.

Kaya-Iloilo will wait for the winner of the Stallion-Laguna Football Club and Maharlika Manila Football Club quarterfinal series for their opponent in the two-leg semifinals round.

Meanwhile, Davao Aguilas-UMAK Football Club booked their ticket to the semifinals round following a 2-0 aggregate score victory over Club de Futbol Manila in the quarterfinals round.

Serge Kaole was the lone goal scorer for the Davao Aguilas as they escaped with a 1-0 victory over Club de Futbol Manila in the second leg of the two-leg round-of-eight encounter./ASC, WDJ