Loyola Sparks take on Stallions as they build up for Singapore Cup quarterfinal

by Karlo Sacamos

LOYOLA Meralco continues its buildup for an important international competition as it takes on Stallion FC on Tuesday in the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig.

With their title chances in the UFL hanging by a thread, the Sparks are setting their sights on the Singapore Cup, an annual invitational participated in by some of the top club teams in Southeast Asia.  

There, Loyola is set to face defending champion Home United in the quarterfinals later this month after dispatching Champasak in the group stage with a 7-1 thrashing.

“We’re just taking the games as preparation for that (Singapore Cup),” Sparks coach Vince Santos said ahead of the 8 p.m. matchup with the Stallions.

The Sparks, though, are still mathematically alive in the title race with 43 points in 21 matches. But the second-running side has to win its last three matches and hope that league-leading Global FC (50 points, 20 games) would lose theirs to remain in contention.

The Stallions, running fourth with 35 points, are just playing the spoilers’ role, having been left out of the title picture way earlier.  

James Younghusband and Joaco Cañas banner the Sparks three days after seeing action in the Clear Dream Match where their squad won, 1-0, over the side of Phil Younghusband, who is questionable after suffering a head injury in the all-star match.

Fifth-running Green Archers United faces Division 1 rookie Socceroo earlier at 5:15 p.m.

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