Finals Preview: Azkals Development Team 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara: Match Overview, Semifinals Recap, and Quotes from Coach Yu Hoshide

The Copa Paulino Alcantara comes to a close with the Final between Kaya FC-Iloilo and the Azkals Development Team on Friday night, 7:45pm, at the PFF National Football Center. The opening night rematch is set up to be action-packed and filled with drama: will the ADT get payback for the earlier group stage shutout, or will Kaya complete their sweep of the Cup slate? Everything will be answered tomorrow night, when the last club standing receives the illustrious trophy and earns the right to fight their way onto next year’s AFC Champions League group stage.

Head Coach Yu Hoshide currently has the team on a three-game winning streak, and noted their high spirits following the tense Semifinal against Dynamic Herb Cebu FC. The match was locked in a stalemate until Daizo Horikoshi earned a late penalty, which Jovin Bedic capitalized on to keep the streak alive.

“It was a really tough game, but I am happy with the result. Winning is the most important thing for us, so the team is in a really good mood right now,” he stated.

Hoshide has had the team ready to play since coming back from the ACL trip in July, but the turnaround didn’t come as quickly as expected. The 2021 PFL Season’s eventual cancellation left the Copa as the only action Philippine clubs would see this calendar year, which makes it all the more important to make these games count.

“It’ll be the last game for 2021. The cup was only for a short time, but it’s been a long preparation for us. We’ve waited for this moment for so long, so I want the players to enjoy and show what we learned this season for the supporters and fans.”

In the match against Cebu, Kaya’s performance left much on the table and could’ve used some more polish. Coach Yu remains confident however, noting the steady progress the team has made throughout the competition.

“Including myself—we all are not perfect, still building, and learning a new style of play. Of course, sometimes we’ll struggle but we were able to adjust and win the last game. That shows the time we put in and that we’re really growing up.”

The developmental Azkals have shown similar growth through their own campaign—bouncing back from losing the opener with a dominant 9-0 victory over Mendiola FC 1991. Then in the Semifinal, they went the distance with Stallion Laguna FC before sealing the 2-1 win in extra time. Despite losing their captain Jarvey Gayoso late in the second half to a leg injury, the rest of the roster displayed incredible drive and perseverance in his absence.

“Both teams are getting better game by game, that’s why it won’t be easy. But, we can promise that we will do our very best to get the title,” Coach Yu stated.

The two teams have improved and found their form over the course of the Copa Paulino Alcantara, and the match tomorrow night may end up becoming a back-and-forth affair. Both squads are offensively oriented, preferring to build up patiently from the back in order to unleash their speedy wingers and crafty forwards. It may all come down to which side maintains control of the pace, and more importantly, whose defensive discipline will hold out the longest. In this regard, Iloilo may have the upper hand considering the defense has yet to concede a goal and the keepers have rarely been threatened. It’s shaping up to be an exciting match either way, and one that carries significant weight for the future.

For Kaya, winning here is a necessary step towards their ultimate goal of returning to the top flight of Asian football. Not only is this is an opportunity to bring the illustrious Copa back home to Iloilo, but also their only shot at a ticket to the 2022 AFC Champions League.