Dynamic Cebu FC in tough semis vs. Kaya FC in Copa

DYNAMIC Cebu FC faces its stiffest test to date as it takes on tournament favorite Kaya FC-Iloilo in the semifinals of the Philippines Football League (PFL) Copa Paulino Alcantara on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.

Cebu FC, the Philippines’ newest pro club, looks to upset one of the country’s most established clubs in just its second pro match.

“We are ready,” Cebu FC head coach Oliver Colina told SunStar Cebu. “We already made the necessary adjustments because we all know that Kaya FC is a strong and experienced team with lots of veteran players.”

Colina is all too familiar with Kaya FC because he had a short stint as head coach with the team in 2020 before he was replaced by his assistant coach Yu Hoshide.

“We need to double our effort on the defending side and play as hard as we can. We must be disciplined and be patient in our defense but still continue with our attack. We want to show more action in every situation,” said Colina.

Cebu FC made its pro debut with a 1-0 loss to Stallion Laguna FC in Group A of the Copa Paulino Alcantara. Despite the loss, Cebu FC showed that it can hang with the pro clubs of the Philippines.

“We have a few adjustments especially on our defending side. Not much adjustments in our attacking but our strikers must be sharp and mobile,” said Colina.

Kaya FC, the 2019 Copa runner-up, was very impressive in the group stage. Kaya FC beat Azkals Development Team, 2-0, and demolished Mendiola FC 1991, 6-0.

Before the Copa Paulino Alcantara, Kaya FC is coming off a stint in the AFC Champions League.

Kaya FC beat Shanghai Port, 1-0, to earn a spot in the group stage. Kaya FC, however, lost all its matches in the tournament against BG Pathum United, Viettel FC and Ulsan Hyundai FC.

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