MANILA – Daizo Horikoshi has been named the best player of the soon-to-finish Philippines Football League (PFL) season.
The Japanese national was bestowed with the Golden Ball award following the formal awarding of the championship trophy to Kaya-Iloilo on Saturday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Choosing Horikoshi as the league's Most Valuable Player in the first full season following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was a no-brainer.
The winger led the PFL in goals with 15 and assists with 19.
Horikoshi dished out a dime to his brother Tamon in the latter's opening goal for Kaya-Iloilo in a 3-1 win against Stallion Laguna to close out their campaign before they were formally named champions.
Meanwhile, Zach Banzon's superb play as Kaya-Iloilo's main goalkeeper earned him the Golden Glove award.
Banzon made the most when he got the starting netminder position back after the club loaned Quincy Kammeraad to the Azkals Development Team ahead of the Southeast Asian Games and tallied the least amount of goals conceded this season.
Kaya-Iloilo will finish the season with 55 points following its 18th win against one loss and three draws.
Stallion Laguna, on the other hand, remained at 38 points as they officially closed the 2022-2023 season with a match against Maharlika Manila on June 4. (PNA)
