By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo has retained its Copa Paulino Alcantara championship after surviving the Davao Aguilas-UMAK FC through penalties, 4-3, in a one-game finale at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on Saturday evening, December 9.

Mikel Justin Baas delivered the championship-clinching penalty kick for the Iloilo City-based booters as he slotted the ball past the defense of Davao Aguilas’ goalkeeper Dini Ouattara.

The connection by Baas was a controversial one as his initial penalty attempt was foiled by Ouattara, but the referees ordered a retake as the Davao Aguilas keeper’s foot was outside the box when he saved Baas’ kick.

It was Kaya-Iloilo’s second championship this year after earlier ruling the 2022-2023 Philippines Football League, while it was also the football club’s second consecutive Copa crown.

Kaya-Iloilo started the championship game on the wrong foot as they surrendered a 1-0 lead to Davao Aguilas-UMAK at the half courtesy of a 45th-minute header from Yannick Tuazon.

However, the Iloilo City-based football club managed to level the score in the second half, as Nano Amita managed to catch Ouattara’s defense napping for a close-range connection.

Kaya-Iloilo had multiple opportunities to break the tie during the remainder of the regulation and until two halves of extra time, but Ouattara managed to block away all their attempts.

In the penalties, the Davao Aguilas-UMAK managed to take the early lead via a Paolo Bugas hit on the defense of Quincy Kammeraad coupled by a missed attempt from Kaya-Iloilo veteran Robert Lopez Mendy.

Kaya-Iloilo went on to take a 3-1 lead with conversions from Ilonggo captain Jovin Bedic, Daizo Horikoshi and Audie Menzi, and misses from Davao Aguilas-UMAK’s Tuazon and Serge Kaole.

Kart Talaroc and Troy Limbo gave Davao Aguilas-UMAK a lifeline with their back-to-back goal conversions, but the connection from Baas secured the championship for Kaya-Iloilo./ADC, WDJ