Greatwich: We Need to Handle Business Ourselves Kaya FC–Iloilo returns to action in the Copa Paulino Alcantara on Wednesday afternoon against JPV Marikina.

After enjoying a perfect start to the Copa Paualino Alcantara earlier in the month, Kaya FC-Iloilo is eager to return to action after a two-week break. Sitting atop Group B after a 4-0 win on opening day, Kaya resumes its campaign against a JPV Marikina side fresh from a thrilling 4-3 victory over Global Cebu over the weekend. The match is set to take place on Wednesday, 4pm, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, followed by the Group A encounter between Ceres Negros and Stallion Laguna at 7pm.

“We’ve performed very well against JPV this season. We managed to get maximum points against them [in the league], although the games have been very close. JPV will be buoyed by their result over Global, and obviously in a cup game anything’s possible. It’s a matchup that we’re excited to play because we’ve had an extended period without a game. I know the guys are excited and have been working a lot on things on the training field, as well as recuperating some of the injured players who hopefully will be back in the fold,” said team manager Chris Greatwich.

“Hopefully we can turn in another performance and get in another three points which is really important for our progression into the knockout phase,” he added.

One of the biggest surprises of the Copa Paulino Alcantara has been the two consecutive defeats suffered by pre tournament favorites Ceres Negros in Group A. The league champions aim to salvage their semifinal hopes on Wednesday night, as they take on their most recent tormentors, Stallion Laguna.

“We can’t underestimmate the quality of Stallion and Davao. They’ve played extremely well in the latter stages of the league and as such, they’ve beaten Ceres in their last two games. But to be honest, I’m not too concerned of what happens in the other group. We can only take care of our own business — in our group, and who we play in the semifinals. We’ll take whoever we get,” said Greatwich.

Should Ceres still go on to win the Copa Paulino Alcantara, Kaya’s second place finish in the league would be the basis for inclusion in next year’s AFC Cup. But with Negros currently facing an early exit, that scenario playing out is looking ever more unlikely — not that it matters to Greatwich.

“If we were relying on qualifying for AFC effectively by default, we’re looking at it the wrong way. We performed to the best of our ability in the league. Ultimately we finished second, but we didn’t see it as a way to secure passage into the AFC. We need to handle business ourselves, and be in control of our destiny. The best way for us to do that is to win the cup and that’s what we’re fully focused on doing.”

Tickets to Wednesday’s match are currently available at any SM Tickets outlet, and via SMtickets.com. Tickets (P100, good for both games) will also be available at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Wednesday.