Davao, Iloilo seal top seeds in PFL Cup semis

Davao beat Stallion Laguna, 4-0, at the Biñan Football Stadium here, while Iloilo turned back JPV Marikina, 1-0, at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.(phot0: PhilippineFootballLeague)

BIÑAN, Laguna — Davao Aguilas and Kaya Iloilo clinched the top seedings in the semifinals of the Copa Paulino Alcantara after both winning on the road on Wednesday.

Davao beat Stallion Laguna, 4-0, at the Biñan Football Stadium here, while Iloilo turned back JPV Marikina, 1-0, at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.

Braces from Phil Younghusband and Kim Sung-Min sufficed as Davao will enter the semifinals unbeaten with 10 points on three wins and one draw.

The same can be said for Iloilo as Robert Mendy’s lone goal shut Marikina’s last chance of bringing the Philippines Football League back to the Marikina Sports Center.

Younghusband drilled the first goal of the Laguna-Davao match in the 42nd minute off a short volley.

Kim then slotted the ball in from close range in the 71st minute.

Younghusband added one more as he slotted in a penalty in the 83rd minute.

Kim then slashed all the way through the Laguna defense and found himself all alone for the finish.

On the other hand, Mendy’s fifth minute strike was all Iloilo needed to defeat Marikina.

However, both sides will enter the semifinals on Sunday with one suspended player each as Iloilo’s Melo Tacusalme and Marikina’s Nelson Gasic were each shown direct red cards for their respective hard fouls.

Davao will take on Marikina at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, while Iloilo battles Laguna at the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City in the knockout semifinals.