Draft:2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara Final

2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara Final

Event	2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara
Kaya–Iloilo Davao Aguilas
Date	December 9, 2023
Venue	Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila

The final of the fifth season of the Copa Paulino Alcantara will be contested by Kaya–Iloilo and Davao Aguilas on neutral ground at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. It will be the first time the two teams have faced each other since the inaugural final in 2018, where Kaya won 1–0.

Background

Due to the restructuring of the PFL by the Philippine Football Federation and Liga Futbol Inc. and the withdrawals of the Azkals Development Team and United City from the league, the 2023 season of the Copa Paulino Alcantara was planned to act as a preview of the upcoming PFL season, with 17 teams participating in the group stages of the tournament that could potentially join the PFL after the tournament's conclusion. All five remaining PFL teams, including Kaya, were the first to confirm their participation in the tournament. Davao, who withdrew from the PFL at the end of the 2018 season, made their return to professional football in the Philippines.

Kaya, who lost the previous year's final to United City, were placed in Group A with teams such as UAAP champions Far Eastern University and rivals Loyola, and swept the group, scoring 40 goals and conceding 2. Kaya would also win all their knockout stage matches, including an 11–0 beating of the University of the Philippines and a close 4–2 aggregate win over fellow PFL team Stallion Laguna. Davao were placed in Group C and finished second behind Stallion, where they faced fellow new team CF Manila in the quarter-finals, beating them 2–0. In the semi-finals, Davao upset 2022–23 PFL runners-up Dynamic Herb Cebu through a long range strike by midfielder Paolo Bugas, winning the tie 2–1.

The final, which was initially scheduled for November 12, was rescheduled to December 9, and will be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, the stadium used for the majority of the tournament's matches. The 2023 final marks the first meeting between Kaya and Davao since the latter lost 1–0 in the final 5 years prior, after which Davao withdrew from the professional football scene for 5 years. Of those who played in the final, Kaya captain Jovin Bedic, defenders Audie Menzi and Camelo Tacusalme, midfielders Marwin Angeles and Arnel Amita, and striker Robert Lopez Mendy are the only players remaining, while none of Davao's 2018 roster are still with the squad. Serge Kaole, who came off the bench for Kaya in extra-time, now captains the Davao side while Marco Casambre, who played as full-back for the Aguilas in 2018, now plays for Kaya. Davao will be without the services of striker Ealwhine Dalam due to a red card the player received during stoppage time in the club's 1–1 semi-final draw with Dynamic Herb Cebu.

Due to the Asian Football Confederation's overhaul of the AFC club competitions, the winner of the final will qualify for the qualifying rounds of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League 2, potentially dropping down to the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League should they fail to qualify.

Route to the final

Further information: 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara

Kaya–Iloilo				Round	Davao Aguilas
Opponent	Result			Group stage	Opponent	Result
Loyola	7–0			Matchday 1	Adamson University	2–0
Don Bosco Garelli	11–0			Matchday 2	Tuloy	5–0
Philippine Air Force	9–1			Matchday 3	Philippine Army	4–3
CF Manila	8–0			Matchday 4	Mendiola 1991	3–3
Far Eastern University	5–1			Matchday 5	Stallion Laguna	0–4
Group A winners Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Kaya–Iloilo 5 15 2 CF Manila 5 10 3 Philippine Air Force 5 7 4 Far Eastern University 5 6 5 Loyola 5 4 6 Don Bosco Garelli 5 0 Source:				Final standings	Group C runners-up Pos Team Pld Pts 1 Stallion Laguna 5 12 2 Davao Aguilas 5 10 3 Mendiola 1991 5 9 4 Tuloy 5 7 5 Philippine Army 5 3 6 Adamson University 5 1 Source:
Opponent	Agg.	1st leg	2nd leg	Knockout phase	Opponent	Agg.	1st leg	2nd leg
University of the Philippines	11–0	3–0	8–0	Quarter-finals	CF Manila	2–0	1–0	1–0
Stallion Laguna	4–2	2–1	2–1	Semi-finals	Dynamic Herb Cebu	2–1	1–0	1–1