Kaya FC Look to Build on Promising Start PFL 2022 — Cebu FC Match Preview, a Thrilling Opener, and Quotes from Eric Giganto and Coach Yu Hoshide

Spectators were left on the edge of their seats as the 2022 Philippine Football League’s opening match came down to the wire—before they erupted in excitement as Eric Giganto’s stoppage-time header found the back of the net to decide the game.

It took Kaya FC-Iloilo just over 90 minutes to break through the Azkals Development Team’s defenses, but the 1-0 effort was worth three points all the same. Even if it was a closer call than he would’ve liked, Head Coach Yu Hoshide was elated to put a win on the board.

“Of course a win is a win, so I’m very happy. I expected it to be a tough game; but I didn’t expect it to be like that 90 minutes in,” he stated. “We have to improve more and more, but this first game we needed a win. That’s what was important—that we get those three points.”

“Thankful ako, lalo na sa mga teammate ko at sa Panginoon,” said Giganto in his post-game interview. “Yung set up na iyon, hindi biro, I think it was three chances total and in only one of the three we scored.”

Eric was the hero of the match, grabbing the spotlight to cap off an inspiring return from injury problems that have been plaguing him for the past year.

“Many injuries happened pero yun nga, pinupush ko ang sarili ko na makabalik ako at makatulong sa team,” the forward added. “So yun yung motivation ko, lalo na ang family ko at daughter ko—para sa kanila talaga to.”

“Before he scored, he had some really good chances as well. He’s always in the right positions, even in training,” Coach Yu said about his #9. “I was sure he would score, that’s why I put him in for the last minutes.”

Iloilo’s last win before Sunday’s thriller came in the Copa Paulino Alcantara Semifinal versus Stallion Laguna FC, a game that took place four calendar days after they last saw Dynamic Herb Cebu FC on the pitch. In the tournament’s final elimination stage match, the boys bested their Visayan neighbors 3-0 on a debut goal for Patrick Arthur and a brace for Daizo Horikoshi.

Iloilo will be aiming to improve on their showing in the season opener. After a frantic start to the game, they assumed control of the pace and were able to pepper attacks at the ADT defense at will—though some stellar goalkeeper play rendered all but the final attempts moot. Kaya FC go into this next game with a more convincing result in mind.

The gates of the Rizal Memorial Stadium will be open to all spectators, tickets are P150 but Students, Seniors, PWDs, and Kaya Weekly Subscribers get in for only P100! Kickoff’s at 7:00 PM on Sunday, and you can also catch the Livestream at home on the PFL’s Facebook and YouTube pages!