Fatal Four-Way: 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara Semifinals Preview
Updated: Nov 16, 2021
And then there were four. After four matches in the group stages, 17 goals scored and two teams eliminated, the stage is set for the semifinals of the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara.
Though it was a short group stage, the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara did not lack any action as all four matches did not lack any goal or any drama.
All four teams that made it to the semis, namely, 2018 title-holders Kaya FC-Iloilo, trophy-hunting Stallion Laguna FC, guns-blazing Azkals Development Team, and club football newcomers Dynamic Herb Cebu FC, deserve to be in the semifinals of the country's only top-flight club football tournament this season.
With three more games remaining in the season, let us now take a look at the final four participants and their keys to victory.
Photo by: PFL
They are the runaway favorites in the competition and they should why in their group stage matches against the ADT and Mendiola FC 1991. It's been four months since their last competitive match in the AFC Champions League and they've shown how thirsty they were for some action.
They've begun their Operation: Bring it back to Iloilo with a clinical victory against ADT. The scoreline may not have shown it, but on the pitch, they dominated in every department.
In their second match, goals flew in and the Iloilo-based booters saw their team captain momentarily grab the top goalscorer honors with two goals in the match. Heading into the semifinals, Kaya FC-Iloilo is the only squad that has six different goalscorers in a span of two games. This only proves how flexible their team is.
Knowing that they have plenty of goalscoring options, coach Yu Hoshide and Kaya FC won't have to pull their hairs just thinking about who should pull the trigger for them.
The most important thing they'd have to think about is how huge this tournament is for them. Celebrating their 25th year of existence, it would be amazing to see them lift the trophy by the end of the season. They'll also be the first team to make it to three Copa Paulino Alcantara finals in a row.
Photo by: PFL
It's never easy to become the newcomers in everything but with Dynamic Herb Cebu FC, they were given an easier path towards the semifinals as they were gifted an automatic berth thanks to the withdrawal of United City FC. By now, Cebu FC should've been able to shake off the opening day jitters as they will now face the giants in order to make it to the promised land.
Despite the outright semifinals ticket, Cebu FC still proved to everyone that they are not a team to be pushed around as they gave Stallion Laguna FC a worthy warm-up for their own semifinal tussle.
The Laguna-based booters made the most of the scrappy movement in the 19th minute when Abou Sy scored thanks to a tap-in. From there, they just needed to defend as Cebu FC showed their intention to crawl back into the game.
Had the game ended with a draw, Cebu FC would've gotten the top spot in group A due to cards accumulated and could've faced the Azkals Development Team. However, they are about to face the runaway favorites Kaya FC-Iloilo who's looking to bring the trophy back to Iloilo.
With this huge of a task, Cebu FC needs to move heaven and earth in order to pull off an upset against the cup favorites. On paper, the newcomers can test the 2018 CoPA winners as they have huge names like Joaco Cañas and Ricki Sendra, all of whom are no strangers to the league.
They also have Roberto Corsame who had a stint with Kaya FC in the 2020 season as well as their former custodian Ace Villanueva. These local talents should bring in the experience of playing with Kaya FC to their current teammates.
They'll also bank on their collegiate standouts in Kintaro Miyagi, John Renz Saldivar, and Jeremiah Borlongan's contributions to the match as these new faces are looking to prove that they belong in the big leagues.
Photo by: PFL
After being scoreless in the last four of their five matches, the Azkals Development Team has unleashed hell against the lowly Mendiola FC 1991 squad as they walloped them by nine goals to nil to book the last semifinal ticket.
However, their 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara campaign did not start on a high note as they went up against the hungry lions of Kaya FC-Iloilo who were clinically and tactically sound in their return to competitive football after their historic appearance in the AFC Champions League.
There were moments of brilliance for the ADT side whenever they have the ball as they managed to pass it around and find the open spaces but when the 2018 title-holders got their first goal, that's where everything went south.
In their match, however, against Mendiola FC 1991, they've dominated the possession as well as the ball distribution. They made the ball work for them as opposed to them working for it.
No doubt getting the ball to the current top goalscorer Jarvey Gayoso should be the priority for ADT but knowing who will provide the goods for him is as important as his goalscoring prowess.
Good thing for the young Azkals, they have an abundance of midfielders with great vision. With Sandro Reyes coming out of his shell already, he could easily pair up with Oskari Kekkonen who, in our point of view, hasn't lost the ball in the entire competition.
The young Azkals could also bank on the pace that they have during the counterattack with Oliver Bias and Dennis Chung running down the wings. These speedsters will make the full-backs work throughout the entire minutes just to make sure that they will not be left in a blink of an eye. These will be very vital for them as they go up against Stallion Laguna FC whose defense will be rock solid but may lack in pace. We'll talk more about them next.
Photo by: PFL
Eight years. It's been eight years since Stallion Laguna FC has won their last silverware and even coach Ernest Nierras has used some vulgar words in the past about how thirsty they are for winning any type of silverware.
With their squad, this year being a mix of youngbloods and veterans, Stallion Laguna FC's intent to win the cup is truly evident. Mainstays Nathan Alquiros, Matthew Nierras, Jo Warren Bedia, and Pepito Hayeson have been vital for them in their opening match against Cebu.
However, one player stood out the most. The unmissable huge physique of Abraham Placito dominated almost every part of the pitch that night they went up against Cebu.
Playing in midfield, Placito distributed the ball well, found some opening for his own, and helped the defense keep a clean sheet. His perfect timing on tackles and interceptions made it hard for the resilient Cebu FC side to score in their debut match.
However, they'll be up against the flashy and pacy Azkals Development Team. They need to make sure that they'll always be level with the ADT to avoid being caught on the counterattack.
One thing that they can also focus on is to keep the ball away from the young Azkals. Kaya FC-Iloilo has shown the weak points of the ADT whenever they don't have the ball. They also made the boys run around and chase for the ball which made the game even harder for the developmental side.
If Stallion Laguna FC can do this, they can start thinking about that spot in the finals and a shot at destiny to finally clean the dust in their cabinet and replace it with shining silverware.
The semifinal matches are scheduled on November 16, 2021, with Stallion Laguna FC going up against the Azkals Development Team at 4 P.M. while Kaya FC-Iloilo tussle with Dynamic Herb Cebu FC at 7 P.M. All matches will be played at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
Fans can watch the games live on free TV through One Sports and, for cable subscribers, you can catch the action on high definition through One Sports+. You can also watch the games on the go through the live stream on the Facebook pages and Youtube channels of the Philippines Football League, Puso Pilipinas, and Smart Sports.
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