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Melliza hat trick tows Stallion Laguna to biggest win of PFL '19 vs Global Makati

By Ivan Saldajeno

BINAN--Jhan-Jhan Melliza completed a hat trick in his best performance so far in the PFL season, and Stallion Laguna scored its biggest win with a 9-1 mauling of Global Makati at the Binan Football Stadium on Wednesday.

Melliza's hat trick came early in the second half as the home side sealed its breakaway from Global Makati there.

The onslaught actually began in the second minute, when Darwin Regala struck first for Stallion Laguna.

Edris Najm added another goal for the host in the seventh minute before action slowed down a little.

Dodong Villareal, however, broke the ice anew for Stallion Laguna in the 39th minute as the club entered halftime 3-0 up.

Melliza then came to work, scoring his first goal just 40 seconds into the second half.

He then scored another in the 51st minute to make it 5-0.

Fitch Arboleda struck one in for Stallion Laguna in the 54th minute before Melliza finally hit the jackpot with a 66th minute goal.

Nate Alquiros then drilled in a 74th minute goal for the 8-0 count.

Paolo Salenga shot an 85th minute penalty as a consolation for Global Makati.

But Alquiros literally ended the match with a bang with his final whistle-beating goal for his own brace.

Stallion Laguna strengthened its hold of third place with its 32nd point of the season.

Global Makati, meanwhile, suffered a bad beat after scoring two straight draws that would have sparked an endgame rally for the cellar-dwelling side.

Kaya Iloilo 5 Air Force 0

In Iloilo City, Jordan Mintah returned with a bang as Kaya Iloilo capped a 2-0 home sweep of Air Force with a 5-0 win.

Mintah, who sat out their previous meeting on Sunday due to a suspension, issued a statement with a hat-trick-and-one on Air Force.

Mintah drew first blood for Kaya Iloilo in the 14th minute, but a repeat of its down-the-wire finish with Air Force became imminent as both sides failed to find the net during the remainder of the first half.

Kaya Iloilo broke loose early into the second half as Mintah drilled in goals in the 48th and the 50th minutes for the 3-0 count.

Mintah capped his brilliance with a 73rd minute strike before Yannick Tuason replaced him.

Tuason, however, provided some impact as well as he forced a penalty kick for Kaya Iloilo, leading to Jovin Bedic's exclamation point in the 85th minute.

Kaya Iloilo, now on 43 points, is just within six points of league-leading Ceres Negros (49).

Air Force, on the other hand, remains in sixth place with 11 points.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno