Rizal Memorial Stadium — Kaya FC-Iloilo have won three straight to begin their PFL campaign with a dominant 8–0 victory over Valenzuela PB-Mendiola FC. The men in black and yellow set the tone early and never looked back, extending their lead at the top of the table.
The scoring opened in the 14th minute, when Mike Ott controlled a long ball from Kaishu Yamazaki inside the box and slotted it home to make it 1–0. Five minutes later, Magnus Ravn’s corner found Gavin Muens, whose header teed up Martini Rey to double the advantage from close range. (2-0) In the 31st minute, Marwin Angeles latched onto another Ravn cross with a decisive header for Kaya’s third. (3-0)Ott then completed his brace just two minutes later—receiving a pass from Sherwin Basindanan on the counter, dropping a defender, and finishing to add to his tally as the league’s top scorer. (4-0)
Sherwin Basindanan then proceeded to rattle off three goals in a row, the Iloilo native opening his season account with an emphatic hat-trick. The first came in the 35th minute on a superb low, curling half-volley off a Paolo Bugas cross to make it 5–0. Kaya’s momentum carried into the second half, with the second arriving in the 51st minute as Basindanan chested down another Ravn cross and fired home another crisp half-volley. (6-0) The third followed just six minutes later, as he timed his run onto a delightful through ball from Jovin Bedic and sent composed strike through the Mendiola keeper’s legs. (7-0)
The scoring was rounded off in stoppage time, when Jovin Bedic cleverly let a pass run through his legs to Del Rosario, who returned the favor with a perfectly weighted through ball that Bedic finished to make it 8–0.
It was a commanding performance from start to finish, underscoring Kaya’s attacking depth and ability to rotate quality players across multiple positions. With three more points on the board, the men in black and yellow now turn their focus to their next PFL test against Cebu in a week’s time.
Starting Lineup: 4-3-3
LF: Bugas ST: Rey RF: Basindanan
CM: Ott CDM: Muens CM: Angeles
LB: Ravn CB: Yamazaki CB: Rota RB: Arboleda
GK: Cortez
Subs: Bata, Zambrano, Bedic, Melliza, Diano, Casambre, Daniels, Esso, Del Rosario, Menzi
Coach Yu Hoshide made three personnel changes in this match:
- Nathan Bata, Jovin Bedic, and Audie Menzi came in after the halftime break, replacing Freddy Cortez, Mike Ott, and Kaishu Yamazaki, respectively.
- Lucas del Rosario checked in for Paolo Bugas in the 66th minute.
- Lastly, Jhan Melliza came on for fellow Ilonggo Sherwin Basindanan in the 78th minute.
As for disciplinary actions, Martini Rey and Sherwin Basindanan were cautioned in the first half, picking up yellow cards in the 40th and 44th minutes, respectively.
Meanwhile, Magnus Ravn’s PFL debut and first start for Kaya ended abruptly, as he and Mendiola’s Isaac Anoh were both shown straight red cards after a heated altercation.
