Kaya Iloilo battles Toyota in AFC Cup tonite

MANILA, Philippines — Kaya Iloilo seeks to mark its return to the AFC Cup with a victory tonight when it plays Laos Premier League champs Lao Toyota in the Group H opener at National Stadium in Vientiane.

The Iloilo-based squad, winner of the Philippines Football League’s Copa Paulino Alcantara last year, plays its first game in the second-tier international meet since 2016, hoping to match or surpass its stint to the Round-of-16 the first time around.

“First game ng team sa AFC Cup so lahat kami very excited,” said Kaya star Jovin Bedic in a a recent guesting on ESPN5’s Sports Center Philippines. 

Aside from the Laotian champs, Kaya is also up for matches with Singapore’s Home United, the reigning AFC Cup Asean Zone titlist, and Indonesia’s PSM Makassar, the AFC Cup debutant which actually had experience in the top-tier AFC Champions League group stages back in 2004 and 2005.

“It’s an exciting group. It’s definitely going to be a challenge but a challenge that the club and the players are excited for,” said Kaya general manager Paul Tolentino, whose team takes on Lao Toyota at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Manila time).

To build up for the AFC Cup, Kaya enlisted Azkals defender Simone Rota, Darryl Roberts of Trinidad and Tobago, Mike Casas and Tyler Matas to join forces with returnees led by Bedic, Yannick Tuason, Jordan Mintah, Alfred Osei, Ace Villanueva and Marwin Angeles.

“For supporters of Kaya FC and supporters of football in general, this is an exciting opprotunity for them to see clubs from different countries, see their level of football and see how the Filipinos are really able to cope at this level with what you could say are more experienced and seasoned opponents,” said Tolentino.

Kaya’s Ilonggo fans, though, will have to travel to Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City for the team’s home matches as their very own Iloilo Sports Center didn’t pass the criteria of the AFC for this tournament.

PFL league kingpin Ceres Negros FC, meanwhile, was slated to open its campaign over in Group G last night at its turf against Myanmar’s Shan United.