CPA 2022: Stallion Laguna FC Match Preview 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara — Game Overview, Next Man Up, and Quotes from Coach Yu Hoshide

Kaya FC-Iloilo currently sit atop the Copa Paulino Alcantara standings following a dominant 4-0 victory over the Azkals Development Team, improving on a relatively slow start to the season scoring-wise. In order to keep this momentum going, Iloilo will be looking to extend the winning streak to three against long-time adversaries Stallion Laguna FC.

“Honestly, I have to appreciate our players who always work hard even when it’s really difficult,” said Head Coach Yu Hoshide. “We’ve had to wait twelve days after the ADT match to go against Stallion, but our intensity in training has carried over so far. I’m going to expect that same intensity on game day as well.”

Carlyle Mitchell and Daizo Horikoshi both finished on the score sheet, but all eyes were on Robert Lopez Mendy who secured a brace in impressive fashion. Unfortunately, Kaya will be without the striker’s services due to yellow card accumulation—leaving the team even more undermanned going into this fixture.

Captain Jovin Bedic, Sandro Reyes, and Oskari Kekkonen have been called up for the SEA Games, meanwhile Eric Giganto and Jarvey Gayoso are both still recovering from injury. When asked about the team’s current status, Coach Hoshi simply cited the quality present on the roster patiently waiting for their time to shine.

“Actually, all our players this year are deserving of a starting spot, so I am not concerned about that. Some players are really hungry to play for sure, so we can expect a new hero to come against Stallion,” he proclaimed.

On the bright side, Robert’s absence does pave the way for Kaya’s latest signing, Patrick Arthur. The Ghanaian midfielder slides right into the vacated foreign player slot and will be making his debut for the yellow and black tomorrow.

“He’s still a new player, but he’s already begun to adjust his playing style to match ours,” Hoshide stated. “We can already see the leadership he brings, so I am expecting that he will keep us organized in the game against Stallion.”

Not only that, but someone will have to play up front as the tip of the spear. With both Lopez Mendy and Bedic unavailable, surely there will be more than a few curious to see a different look for the front line. Coach Yu already has someone in mind for that spot, after finding some success with him already in limited minutes.

“I’ll most likely be using Daizo as a striker,” he revealed. “In our game against ADT, we tried him out in that position for the last 15 minutes and he went out there and scored.”

Kaya didn’t get the chance to play Stallion in last season’s Copa run, last meeting the pink shirts in the 2020 PFL Bubble. This also marks the first time Fitch Arboleda and Jhan Melliza will be going up against their former team.

This year’s Laguna side features a physical and experienced squad that plays aggressively through all 90 minutes. They also have several promising youngsters, but they too will be away on national team duty. Though the PFL mainstay has yet to secure a win so far, they’ve shown in flashes that they have tricks up their sleeves and are not to be taken lightly. Even so, Coach’s expectations for his side remain unchanged.

“Of course, a win with a clean sheet—that is what I’m always expecting from our players,” Hoshide stated.

With Kaya’s youngsters (plus Jovin) in Hanoi representing the country, it comes down to the veterans on both sides to settle the score. Kaya’s squad depth in particular will be tested moving forward—but regardless of the circumstances, it’s next man up.

We’d like to invite everyone down to the PFF National Football Center in Carmona, Cavite to come and support the boys live from the stands! Kickoff’s at 4:00 PM, and you can also catch the Livestream at home on the PFL’s Facebook and YouTube pages!