Defending champion Kaya-Iloilo and United City FC battled to a 1-1 draw Monday, March 28 in the Copa Paulino Alcantara at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
United City broke the ice in the 34th minute on newly-minted team captain Mike Ott’s opener, but Japanese winger Daizo Horikoshi leveled the score for Kaya in the 56th that forced both clubs to split a point.
There was plenty of anticipation going into the match featuring the two clubs that will compete in this year’s AFC club competitions aside from what was billed as a possible preview of the Copa Final.
In the end, the two teams moved ahead in the seven-team standings at four points apiece, with United City taking the lead on goal difference.
Kaya kept its good run of form in domestic competitions, going unbeaten in the last 11 matches.
Earlier, the Azkals Development Team blanked Mendiola FC 1991, 3-0, to begin its campaign on a winning note.
Scott Woods scored before halftime on a penalty kick before substitutes Sky Guerrero and Lance Ocampo struck in the second half to secure ADT’s victory.
ADT, which lost Jarvey Gayoso, Sandro Reyes, Oskari Kekkonen, Mar Diano and Ivan Ouano during the transfer period, is fielding a pool of players that will be representing the U-23 team in the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.