Missing key players, Global Cebu takes on JP Voltes Marikina today

JP Voltes Marikina FC’s head coach Dan Padernal (left) and his player Aaron Altiche attend the pre-match presser at the Golden Prince Hotel for their match versus the undermanned Global Cebu FC tonight in PFL at the CCSC. (CDN PHOTO/GLENDALE G. ROSAL)

WITH key players nursing injuries and serving suspensions, Global Cebu FC faces an uphill climb when it takes on JP Voltes Marikina FC in a Philippines Football League (PFL) game tonight at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) pitch.

Lady luck hasn’t favored Global Cebu FC in the PFL lately as team captain Misagh Bahadoran is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder and defender Amani Aguinaldo unable to play because of a knee injury. Key strikers Rufo Sanchez and Darryl Roberts are also serving suspensions because of accumulated yellow cards.

Making things worse for Global Cebu, which is currently at fourth place with 34 points (9 wins, 5 losses, 7 draws), is the fact that JP Voltes Marikina beat them twice this season.

But Global Cebu head coach Akhbar Nawas remains optimistic despite the odds.

“We know the situation of the team, we know the rocks are in the middle of two places that you need to cross,” said Nawas in a pre-match press conference yesterday at the Golden Prince Hotel. “We can’t do anything with injuries, the playing field and other reasons. It’s beyond our control. But we are trying our very best to make sure we give our best whenever we play.”

JP Voltes Marikina is currently at the sixth place with 27 points off a 8W-9L-3D record.

Leading the standings is FC Meralco Manila Sparks with 45 points (13W-3L-6D), second placer Kaya Makati with 41 points (12-6-5) while Ceres Negros is at third with 35 points (11-3-2).

There are actually things going in Global Cebu’s way. One is homecourt advantage and the other is the return of ace goal keeper Patrick Deyto, who was out in the last loss to JP Voltes as he was serving a suspension.

JP Voltes head coach Dan Padernal knows it will be a different team with Deyto on board.

“We beat them because they had a bad game and they had no goal keeper. But this time, Deyto is back and I believe that they still have a lot of good players at their disposal. So it’s going to be a good fight since I know Global Cebu very well. I know that they have a big heart to play a good game,” Padernal said.