Copa Paulino Alcantara: Stallion Laguna takes 3rd place after edging Cebu in shootout

Kenneth James delivered for Stallion Laguna in the shootout with a huge penalty save that set up the club's win against Cebu FC. PFL

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Stallion Laguna finished its 2021 campaign on a high note after clinching third place in the Copa Paulino Alcantara through a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Cebu FC in their repechage battle on Friday night at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona.

With both clubs failing to score during regulation, the match quickly went to penalties to decide the outcome.

Daniel Gadia, who played for Stallion Laguna last PFL season, sort of earned the distinction of being the first player to score for Cebu in a PFL-sanctioned event after drilling the first spot-kick of the shootout.

Gabriel Silva, however, quickly equalized after sending the ball to the right side of the goal.

Ricki Sendra put Cebu back up with a strong shot that Kenneth James could not stop, but Abe Placito, who came on as a substitute in regulation, responded with his own power shot also to the left side to tie the shootout again.

Charles Davao put Cebu back up with a finesse shot to the left only for Kim Sung-Min to take the goal back with one of his own.

The turning point came in the fourth round of penalties when James got it right that Papu Corsame would try one on the left side as well and saved the ball from going in.

Warren Bedia then stunned Ace Villanueva by sending his penalty attempt to the right side when Villanueva was looking to go left to make it 4-3 Stallion Laguna.

Joaco Canas tried to keep Cebu in the shootout by scoring his own penalty, but Finn McDaniel iced the match in style when his penalty hit the crossbar first before going in to clinch it for Stallion Laguna.

This is Stallion Laguna's best Cup finish in a league-sanctioned tournament since ruling the 2012 UFL Cup.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno