Rintaro Hama goal lifts Cebu past Mendiola to stay in PFL title race

By Ivan Saldajeno

PARAÑAQUE—Rintaro Hama's first half goal turned out to be enough for Dynamic Herb Cebu as the club edged Mendiola, 1-0, in their PFL showdown on Saturday at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona.

Credited as a Cebu home match but was essentially played in Mendiola's territory in Cavite, Hama hit the difference in the match as Cebu got a chance to chop Kaya Iloilo's lead in the title race.

With no Cebu and Mendiola players called up for the Philippine Azkals in the March FIFA window, the PFL decided to push through with the match, and Hama won it for Cebu as Marius Kore found him wide open at the left wing for the 23rd minute goal.

Cebu is now unbeaten in its last 15 matches since its season-opening defeat to Kaya Iloilo and is now on 37 points, just five behind Kaya Iloilo for the top spot with one game at hand.

Mendiola, meanwhile, stayed in sixth place with six points.

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