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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Goalkeeper Zach Banzon hopes Kaya-Iloilo can pick up key lessons from ACL stint

Goalkeeper Zach Banzon hopes Kaya-Iloilo can pick up key lessons from ACL stint

Published Jul 11, 2021 09:54 am

Photo from AFC

Kaya-Iloilo goalkeeper Zach Banzon is hopeful that the stint in the AFC Champions League will greatly benefit the club going into its domestic duties in the Philippines Football League.

Despite still without a point going into its final group stage match, Kaya has shown some improvements as seen in the last two matches against defending champion Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea and Thai League 1 titleholder BG Pathum United.

In both matches, Kaya almost sneaked in a draw only to lose 2-1 to Ulsan and 1-0 to BG Pathum United.

“We’ve been getting better with every match,” said Banzon, who started the two matches in place of veteran Michael Casas.

“I think the biggest takeaway that we have is that we feel like we belong in this level. We can continue to keep playing in the Champions League, and when we come back to the PFL, we hope that we bring this level to that,” added Banzon.

Kaya is hungry to finally its first domestic league title after settling for runner-up honors despite going unbeaten in last season’s shortened PFL campaign.

The club’s improvement came after a rocky start to its campaign in Group F that saw Kaya lose 4-1 to BG Pathum United followed by a 5-0 defeat to Vietnam’s Viettel and 3-0 to Ulsan Hyundai.

Part of the reason is Banzon, the 24-year-old former University of the Philippines standout who came from Kaya’s youth academy.

“I’ll let everyone else decide (on how I performed), but I feel really good and I’m really proud of my effort and everyone’s effort so I’m happy,” he said.

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Kaya-Iloilo FC Zach Banzon AFC Champions League
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