Top Seeded Kaya to face Fighting Maroons in PFF Women’s Cup Semifinal PWC 2022 — UP Match Preview and Quotes from Shelah Cadag

After an electric elimination stage, Kaya FC-Iloilo’s 6-1 record places them at the top of the table heading into the Semifinals—setting the stage for a fierce clash of yellow and maroon.

Iloilo have been on a roll, winning six straight after conceding an opening night loss. Morale is at an all-time high, thanks in large part to the team’s mindset from the very beginning of the Cup campaign.

“From the beginning po talaga, our goal for this tournament is to become champions. Siguro yon din po ang isa sa pinakadahilan kung bakit umabot kami sa Semis,” stated Shelah Cadag, Kaya’s premier goalscorer.

“Pero syempre bilog pa din ang bola, kailangan talaga pagtrabahuan ng team, encourage each other, at walang hilahan pababa—that’s why our team is winning,” the forward added.

Cadag is currently the competition’s front runner for the Golden Boot Award, tallying 15 goals to her name so far. When asked about her prolific tournament output, she had this to say.

“I’m so lucky to get those goals with the help of the team. Being a striker, my job is to score so ginagawa ko lang po yong responsibility ko,” Shelah noted.

“During our training, the team always motivates me to score and I’m so happy for that kasi pinu-push nila ako sa limit ko—kaya siguro ako nagkaroon ng maraming score.”

Kaya’s attack has been firing on all cylinders, racking up a goal difference of 30 in just seven games. However, the Fighting Maroons did well to stem the tide in their last meeting—holding the potent offense to a 1-0 result.

In order to overcome the staunch UP defense in the rematch, Shelah revealed her squad’s tactical approach in training this week.

“Actually we focused on our strategy on how we defend as much as how we attack,” she noted. “Kasi physical sila, kailangan namin paghirapan sila sa loob—we fight until the end of the game, just one challenge at a time.”

The striker continued, “Malalakas sila at physically fit, pero hindi kami sasabay sa kanila. Kung ano yong laro namin, maintain lang po yon kasi mas may experience kami kaysa sa kanila.”

“Play pa din kami sa system ng KAYA, that’s the way para manalo kami.”

The PFF Women’s Cup Semifinals are set to kickoff Sunday afternoon, 4:00 PM at the PFF National Football Center. The match will also be streamed LIVE via the PFF’s Facebook and YouTube pages.