Originally published by Manila Bulletin Online
Defending champion Kaya-Iloilo and United City FC square off for the championship of the Copa Paulino Alcantara Sunday, May 22 at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. with Kaya hoping to lift the trophy for the second straight year and third in the last four editions of the cup competition named after the great Barcelona striker Paulino Alcantara.
Standing in Kaya’s way is United City which aims to win a silverware after electing not to participate in the 2021 Copa.
Both clubs are coming off similar 1-0 wins in the semifinals held last Tuesday, with Kaya taking down Stallion-Laguna and United City ending the title dreams of vastly-improved Dynamic Herb Cebu.
Daizo Horikoshi, the talented winger from Japan, produced a late winner allowing Kaya to earn a return trip to the Copa Final.
Horikoshi will be one of the players to watch, especially after scoring six goals to lead the race for the Golden Boot award.
His goal also forced Kaya and United City to play a 1-1 tie in their elimination round match last March 28.
UCFC took down Cebu after Simen Lyngbo’s second-half goal to move one win from adding the Copa trophy to the Philippines Football League title it won in 2020.
Cebu and Stallion meet in the first match at 5 p.m. for third place.