Kaya FC-Iloilo Back in First Place in PFL Standings Round 4 of the 2022-23 PFL Season is off to a fantastic start as Kaya reclaim the top spot on the league table.

Nothing worth having comes easy, and Kaya FC-Iloilo had to pry all three points away from the Azkals Development Team last Saturday. 

It was an afternoon chock-full of goals and tougher time than Head Coach Yu Hoshide would’ve liked, but the boys in yellow pulled through and continue to inch closer to the club’s first PFL title.

“We haven’t played in three weeks, so our players lack a bit of match experience coming off the break,” Hoshide stated. “We struggled a bit in the first half because of that, but at the end of the day we won—especially in the second half.”

Though Iloilo controlled possession, they lacked their usual sharpness in the early goings. This was proven to be the case when ADT were able to equalize mere minutes after Jarvey Gayoso’s opener, a momentary lapse of focus that did not go unpunished. 

The match went into halftime in a 1-1 stalemate, and the boys were in sore need of a wake up call—which was exactly what the players got during the break.   

“This game was tough, especially the first half where we were not playing well,” noted Man of the Match Daizo Horikoshi. “But in those 15 minutes at halftime, we had a good conversation and Coach told us we have to give a hundred percent more.” 

The results came almost instantly. The league’s top goals and assists man found the back of the net in under a minute of action, Kaya kicking into high gear with an onslaught of chances to start the second period. Ten minutes later and they finally had breathing space, doubling their lead as Daizo earned his brace. 

ADT were able to eventually snatch one back, but it proved too little, too late—the second half blitz enough to power Iloilo to victory.

“It was a good time to change our mindset, and the second half was good— very good. We took that energy and kept going,” said Daizo.  

“After halftime, we finally switched on,” Coach Yu added, explaining the team’s impressive performance after the break. “We did not expect the slow start, but we won at the end of the day. Hopefully in the next game, we’ll be switched on starting from kickoff.” 

Kaya’s sweep of the season series was met with impassioned chants and cheers of the club’s historic ultras; the Sons of Mighty Kaya having made their grand return at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.  

Each and every fan in the stands helped give the team the extra push they needed in this match, and the two Japanese men were effusive in their post-match messages.  

“We had really good support from the fans today, and I think we actually play better when more people come to watch us,” expressed Daizo. 

Coach Hoshide agreed fully, adding, “It was great seeing them in the stadium today. We really appreciate the fans coming out to watch the games, please continue to support us!”

Kaya FC-Iloilo now have to gear up for one of the most consequential matches of the year: the final Visayas Clasico of the 2022-23 season. With first and second place separated by just two points, the championship may very well be decided on April 23 at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex.

 

Player Spotlight: 

Horikoshi’s Heater
There’s no questioning Daizo’s status as the PFL’s premier creative force this season, leading both the goals and assists lists by a decent margin. The speedster excels with the ball at his feet, free to create chaos whenever he dances and cuts inside the box. 

ADT tried to curb his influence on the game by denying him the ball on the left flank and forcing Kaya to build up on the right, but it mattered little because Horikoshi’s just as lethal as a finisher. With his combination of pace and positioning, he found the back of the net twice in a ten-minute span to seal the win early in the second half.   

Jarvey the Jumpstarter
Gayoso’s goals usually have a certain flair to them, given his blistering pace and nose for the ball in tight spaces. However, there was nothing complicated or overly flashy about his most recent opener. Circling around his defender for a classic left-footed strike across the keeper, it was effective in its overall simplicity.  

Aside from being the match that lit the ensuing firefight, Jarvey put on a solid performance as Iloilo’s lone striker—fulfilling his duties as a target man in addition to his freewheeling flank roaming. 

Melliza’s Mileage 
Kaya received a complete 90-minute performance from the La Paz native. Jhanjhan made a crucial hustle play in the opening moments of the second half, capitalizing on a golden chance and setting the tone for the rest of the game. His versatility was also key, inverting positions often and playing wherever he’s needed on the pitch.