Nierras finds Laguna's "road" win at home "a funny thing"

Jojo Lirio/Smile 8

By Ivan Saldajeno

BIÑAN—Three nights after fighting with Ilocos United to a draw in a match in Bantay that only lasted for 45 minutes, Stallion Laguna found itself in another awkward situation.

Laguna captured its first PFL win on Wednesday night at the Biñan Football Stadium, the place the club calls home, through a 2-0 shutout of Marikina.

[Related Story: Laguna finally strikes gold, beats skidding Marikina]

However, the match was designated as a Marikina home game.

"It's a funny thing that we're in the visitors' locker room," said Laguna coach Ernie Nierras at the post-game press conference at the nearby Alonte Sports Arena, where the dugouts are being used by the PFL while the construction of the grandstand, which includes the football and athletics lockers, is ongoing.

Both clubs are supposed to meet at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, but the area was unavailable, prompting Marikina to have the game at Laguna's "stable", where Marikina actually played its home games in the first round. The repair of the Marikina Sports Complex is still ongoing.

But despite having to play like either of the two Los Angeles teams in the NBA when the court design of the Staples Center is that of the other Hollywood club, Laguna finally got the full three points where the squad would want it to happen—at its own battleground.

"These guys stuck together," Nierras summarized what went right for his club.

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