MANILA -- Kaya Iloilo opened the 2018 Copa Paulino Alcantara on Saturday night at the Rizal Memorial with a masterful 4-0 beatdown of Global Cebu, thanks to their second half streak.
Robert Lopez-Mendy showed his PFL golden boot credentials right away with a hat-trick, as the league runner-up opened the competition with a classy performance against the wooden spoon in the Group B tiff with the aim of bringing home the trophy named after the Ilonggo football legend began with the brightest of starts.
The Senegalese striker opened proceedings midway into the first half with his trademark right boot that hit past Jun Badelic in Cebu goal for the lone difference in the first half.
Iloilo turned the heat at the restart with a three-goal blitz in a 14-minute span knocked the fight out of the Queen City sides.
Miguel Tanton duly doubled their advantage in the 49th minute with a smashing free kick to the top right corner, which was followed six minutes later by Lopez-Mendy on a counter.
The league's most lethal marksman then completed his hat-trick with a simple tap from inside the box in the 63rd minute before giving way to Connor Tacagni in the 77th minute.
Kaya Iloilo: Villanueva (GK), Villasenor, Omura, Tacusalme, Bedic (C), Ugarte, Tanton, Osei (Amita 67'), Lopez-Mendy (Tacagni 77'), A.Menzi, MW Angeles (Pasinabo 70')
subs unused - Cuaresma, Soriano, M. Menzi, Giganto
Global Cebu: Badelic (GK), Lee, Sarmiento (Pavone 74'), Gilmar (Beloya 79'), Beaton, Jarvis, Talaroc, Del Rosario (C), Bricenio, Nikolic, Ramos (Villegas 87')
subs unused - Casas, Brigoli, Cruz, MV Angeles
Attendance: 116
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