Kaya Iloilo zeroes in on PFL title with blowout vs. Maharlika Manila

By Ivan Saldajeno

MAKATI—Kaya Iloilo is just a win away from sealing the PFL title after blasting Maharlika Manila, 5-1, on Saturday night at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona.

Dylan Nobiraki opened the scoring for Kaya Iloilo with a close-range goal in the 12th minute, while fellow Japanese national Tamon Horikoshi made it 2-0 from the right flank in the 27th minute.

Fitch Arboleda scored the club's third goal for the day in the 39th minute, while Jovin Bedic, making a return to the starting unit after spending a few games being a super sub, capped their first-half barrage with a long-range goal in stoppage time that bounced through the goal post first before going in.

Daizo Horikoshi added a fifth goal to Kaya Iloilo's haul in the 61st minute, although Zach Banzon was denied a clean sheet after Ibrahim Ndour tallied Maharlika Manila's consolation goal in the 71st minute.

Kaya Iloilo is now on 52 points with one match left, a showdown with Stallion Laguna next Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

Kaya Iloilo could seal the championship with at least a draw with Stallion Laguna.

The result put a lot of pressure on Dynamic Herb Cebu (currently at 44 points after 19 matches) to win its remaining three matches, which begin with a back-to-back against Stallion Laguna on Sunday and Wednesday at the Dynamic Herb Sports Complex in Talisay City.

Cebu's schedule ends with a clash against the Azkals Development Team next Saturday also at home.

Interestingly enough, the PFL has postponed the ADT's scheduled match for Saturday against Mendiola

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