NPA No More: JPV excited to play in Marikina at last to open the new PFL season

Dan Padernal and Marjo Allado shakes hands as JPV Marikina can now play in their own pitch at last. Photo by Marikina PIO

By Kevin Estrada

MARIKINA -- After wandering between Rizal Memorial and Biñan as their home last season, JPV Marikina is now excited to play at their own turf at last to open the new season of the Philippines Football League.

The season opener will be played under the lights of the Marikina Sports Center on Saturday evening for the very first time, laying to rest the tag of "No Permanent Address" that hounded the side in the entire 2017.

This comes after the PFL on Thursday gave the go signal to the stadium.

What is more fitting is that they will face Global Cebu once again to open their campaign in a rematch of their inaugural tiff last year.

For Dan Padernal, the club is thankful to the city for the trust with them as they will finally play a legitimate home match after being denied the opportunity last season owing to certain factors.

"I think the field. Because we have not enough resources to develop the field, and because of heavy rains it's difficult to maintain the field that's playable," he said after the pre-match conference.

For JPV Marikina vets like PJ Fadrigalan, home sweet home at last after spending last season in Binan and Manila. file

With a massive overhaul of the squad after losing key cogs to various reasons, Padernal was even in a jovial mood about their new-look JPV.

"So the good news is we have a new top scorer," he said in jest, as they paraded a mix of locals such as former Meralco Manila booters in Jake Morallo and Alvin Sarmiento, and Japanese newcomers like Keigo Moriyasu, the son of Japan's U23 gaffer Hajime to cope up with the departures of Camelo Tacusalme, Sean Kane and Takumi Uesato.

Follow him on Twitter: @KevinLEstrada