MANILA – Kaya Iloilo hopes to continue its winning ways in the 2018 Philippines Football League. It plays host to Western Visayas rival Ceres Negros tonight at the Iloilo Sports Complex.
The third edition of the classic rivalry is slated at 4 p.m. after both teams split their first two matches with Ceres Negros winning first on April 4, 2-1, before Kaya Iloilo responded with a 2-0 win on May 14.
Kaya Iloilo head coach Noel Marcaida said they prepared well for the match. They expect Ceres Negros to be aggressive and avenge their lone defeat this season.
“Surely (Ceres Negros) will bounce back from their first loss of the season,” Marcaida said. “But we’ll be ready to face the challenge. We will protect our home. It’s going to be an exciting game.”
Robert Lopez Mendy and Alfred Osei are still out for the match due to the two-game suspension slapped on them while PFL leading scorer Jordan Mintah is also doubtful; he is still recovering from an injury.
“We did it last week (winning against Davao Aguilas without Mendy, Osei and Mintah). We will try to do it again. We have other players who can fill the void for those players,” Marcaida said.
Bannering for Kaya Iloilo are Masanari Omura, Ilonggo Jovin Bedic, Negrenses Jalsor and Janrick Soriano, Camelo Tacusalme, Eric Giganto, Ref Cuaresma, Kenshiro Daniels, and Miguel Tanton.
Kaya Iloilo is currently at second place in the standings with 22 points, on seven wins, one draw and three defeats.
Ceres Negros is on top with 28 points, on nine wins, one draw and one defeat./PN
