2018 Philippines Football League

Philippines Football League
Season2018
DatesMarch 3 – August 25, 2018
ChampionsCeres–Negros
2nd title
AFC Champions LeagueCeres–Negros
Matches played75
Goals scored289 (3.85 per match)
Top goalscorerRobert Lopez Mendy
(18 goals)
Best goalkeeperToni Doblas
(7 clean sheets)
Biggest home winCeres–Negros 7–1 Global Cebu
(July 21)
Kaya–Iloilo 6–0 Global Cebu
(August 11)
Biggest away winGlobal Cebu 1–11 JPV Marikina
(August 1)
Highest scoringGlobal Cebu 1–11 JPV Marikina
(August 1)
Longest winning runCeres–Negros (April 4 – May 12)
(5 matches)
Longest unbeaten runCeres–Negros (May 23 – June 20)
Stallion Laguna (July 14 – Aug 25)
(8 matches)
Longest winless runGlobal Cebu (May 27 – Aug 25)
(17 matches)
Longest losing runGlobal Cebu (July 21 – Aug 25)
(13 matches)
Highest attendance4,681
Ceres–Negros 2–1 Kaya-Iloilo
(April 4)
Lowest attendance0 (Behind closed doors)
JPV Marikina 1–4 Ceres–Negros
(April 28)
← 2017
2019 →
All statistics correct as of August 30, 2018.

The 2018 Philippines Football League was the second season of the Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines. The season started on March 3 and concluded on August 25.[1][2] The league was contested by six teams from last season's eight, after Meralco Manila and Ilocos United withdrew before the season began.

Ceres–Negros won their second consecutive league title on July 25 with three matches to spare.[3]

Due to several issues with the league—such as the expensive home-and-away format as well as the lack of sponsors and TV coverage—the PFL was abolished after the 2018 season and was replaced by the Philippine Premier League.[4] However, the Philippine Premier League also had numerous issues and was folded after only a single match day. The PFL was then renewed for a third season in 2019.

Changes from 2017

For this season, the league discontinued the play-off final, or the Final Series due to the introduction of the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the domestic cup tournament which was held after the league season.[1] Thus, the PFL became a pure quintuple round-robin tournament where each club played the others five times—each club playing 25 games.

Teams

The eight clubs which participated in the inaugural season were granted license to partake in the 2018 season by November 2017.[5] However, on January 8, 2018, FC Meralco Manila ceased operations in the senior club level[6] and on January 18 Ilocos United F.C. announced their withdrawal from the league leaving only 6 teams for the 2018 season.

Stadiums and locations

On February 6, 2018, Kaya F.C. transferred from Makati to Iloilo.[7]

Personnel and kits

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Sponsors
Ceres–Negros Risto Vidaković Martin Steuble Adidas Ceres Liner
Davao Aguilas Melchor Anzures Phil Younghusband Made by club San Miguel Corporation, Tapa King
Global Cebu Dragutin Stević-Ranković Darryl Roberts LGR TrackMate
JPV Marikina Dan Padernal Atsushi Shimono LGR JK Mart, BranchForth, Santouka Ramen
Kaya FC–Iloilo Noel Marcaida Miguel Tanton LGR LBC, Fitness First
Stallion Laguna Ernest Nierras Ruben Doctora Nixáre Giligan's Restaurant

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment
Global Cebu Akbar Nawas End of Contract January 11, 2018[9] Pre-season Marjo Allado (interim) January 11, 2018
Davao Aguilas Marlon Maro Resigned May 29, 2018[10] 3rd Melchor Anzures May 29, 2018[10]
Global Cebu Marjo Allado (interim) Resigned August 4, 2018[11] 6th Dragutin Stević-Ranković August 18, 2018[12]

Foreign players

A maximum of four foreigners are allowed per club which follows the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) '3+1 rule'; three players of any nationality and a fourth coming from an AFC member nation.

Players name in bold indicates the player was registered during the mid-season transfer window.

Club Players Former Players1
Ceres–Negros Toni Doblas[13] Bienvenido Marañón[14] Blake Powell Súper[14] Takumi Uesato
Davao Aguilas Kim Sungmin[15] Brad McDonald 2 3 Tahj Minniecon Wesley dos Santos[16] Takashi Odawara[15]
Harry Sawyer
Diego Alves[17]
Global Cebu Lee Jeong-min[15] Adam Mitter[18] Milan Nikolić[18] Darryl Roberts[19] Rufo Sánchez[20]
Wesley dos Santos[16][21]
JPV Marikina Keigo Moriyasu[22][23] Atsushi Shimono[23] Tsubasa Suzuki[23] Takumi Uesato Ryuki Kozawa[23]
Kaya–Iloilo Serge Kaole Robert Lopez Mendy[24] Masanari Omura[24] Alfred Osei Jordan Mintah[24]
Stallion Laguna Ko Kyung-joon[25] Carlo Polli Abou Sy Yu Sung-Na Gabriele Mascazzini[25]
Ken Kensei[25]
  • ^1 Former players only include players who left after either the start of the 2018 season or the 2018 Copa Paulino Alcantara.
  • ^2 Also a holder of AFC nationality (Australia)
Foreign players by confederation
AFC Japan (5), South Korea (4), Australia3 (2)
CAF Ghana (1), Senegal (2), Cameroon (1)
CONCACAF Trinidad and Tobago (1)
CONMEBOL Brazil (1)
OFC Papua New Guinea3 (1)
UEFA Spain (3),  Switzerland (1), Serbia (1), England (1)
  • ^3 Brad McDonald has both Australia and Papua New Guinea FIFA nationality.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Ceres–Negros (C) 25 19 3 3 66 25 +41 60 Qualification for the
AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 1
or AFC Cup Group Stage
2 Kaya–Iloilo 25 15 4 6 58 32 +26 49
3 Davao Aguilas 25 11 6 8 52 39 +13 39
4 Stallion Laguna 25 12 3 10 49 45 +4 36[a]
5 JPV Marikina 25 7 2 16 46 63 −17 20[b]
6 Global Cebu 25 1 2 22 18 85 −67 5
Source: Philippines Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal Difference; 3) Goals Scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Three points were deducted from Stallion Laguna due to the club's failure to comply with Liga Futbol Inc. Disciplinary Committee’s Decision No. 010318DC03.[26]
  2. ^ Three points were deducted from JPV Marikina due to the club's failure to comply with Liga Futbol Inc. Disciplinary Committee’s Decision No. 010318DC02.[27]

Positions by round

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
Ceres–Negros1111111111111111111111111
Kaya–Iloilo3544332222222222222222222
Davao Aguilas3332223333444333333344333
Stallion Laguna5465544444333444444433444
JPV Marikina1223455555555555555555555
Global Cebu5656666666666666666666666
AFC Champions League Preliminary Round/AFC Cup Group Stage
Updated to match(es) played on August 30, 2018. Source: Philippines Football League

Results by round

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
Ceres–NegrosWWWWWLWWWDWDWWLWWDWWWWLWW
Davao AguilasDWDWWLLWLLLLWWWLDLDWDWWWD
Global CebuLLDLLLWLLLLDLLLLLLLLLLLLL
JPV MarikinaWWLLLLLLLWDLLLWLDLLWWLWLL
Kaya–IloiloDLWLWWWWWLWDLWWWDLLWWWDWW
Stallion LagunaLWLWLWWLLWWLWLLLWWDWWWDDL
Updated to match(es) played on August 30, 2018. Source: Philippines Football League
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

The six clubs will play each other in two rounds of home and away matches. The final round hosting will be via drawing of lots. 75 league matches will be played in total.[1]

Season statistics

Scoring

Top goalscorers

As of August 30, 2018
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Robert Lopez Mendy Kaya–Iloilo 18
2 Bienvenido Marañón Ceres–Negros 15
3 Phil Younghusband Davao Aguilas 13
4 Keigo Moriyasu JPV Marikina 11
5 James Younghusband Davao Aguilas 10
6 Jovin Bedic Kaya–Iloilo 9
Mike Ott Ceres–Negros
Carlo Polli Stallion Laguna
9 J Baguioro JPV Marikina 8
Jesus Melliza Stallion Laguna
Kim Sung-Min Davao Aguilas

Top assists

As of August 30, 2018
Rank Player Club Assists
1 Phil Younghusband Davao Aguilas 13
2 Mike Ott Ceres–Negros 11
3 Miguel Tanton Kaya–Iloilo 10
4 Jovin Bedic Kaya–Iloilo 9
Manny Ott Ceres–Negros
6 Matthew Hartmann Davao Aguilas 8
Jesus Melliza Stallion Laguna
Keigo Moriyasu JPV Marikina
9 Robert Lopez Mendy Kaya–Iloilo 6
10 Fitch Arboleda Stallion Laguna 5
Tyler Matas Davao Aguilas
OJ Porteria Ceres–Negros
Patrick Reichelt Ceres–Negros
Stephan Schröck Ceres–Negros
James Younghusband Davao Aguilas

Own goals

As of August 22, 2018
Rank Player Club Own
goals
1 Terence Linatoc Stallion Laguna 1
Tsubasa Suzuki JPV Marikina
Reynald Villareal Stallion Laguna
Ko Kyung-joon Stallion Laguna

Hat-tricks

As of August 22, 2018
Player Club Result Against Date Ref
Jordan Mintah Kaya–Iloilo 4–1 (A) JPV Marikina May 5, 2018 [28]
Robert Lopez Mendy Kaya–Iloilo 4–2 (H) Davao Aguilas May 20, 2018 [29]
Robert Lopez Mendy Kaya–Iloilo 4–2 (H) JPV Marikina June 27, 2018 [30]
Jovin Bedic Kaya–Iloilo 4–2 (H) Stallion Laguna July 4, 2018 [31]
Bienvenido Marañón Ceres–Negros 6–1 (H) Global Cebu July 25, 2018 [32]
Keigo Moriyasu JPV Marikina 11–1 (A) August 1, 2018 [33]
Jay Baguioro
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

Clean sheets

As of August 29, 2018
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Toni Doblas Ceres–Negros 7
2 Nathanael Villanueva Kaya–Iloilo 4
3 Patrick Deyto Davao Aguilas 3
4 Ronilo Bayan Jr. Davao Aguilas 2
Nick O'Donnell Davao Aguilas
Felipe Tripulca Stallion Laguna
7 Zach Banzon Kaya–Iloilo 1
Ref Cuaresma Kaya–Iloilo
Nelson Gasic JPV Marikina
Hayeson Pepito Stallion Laguna
Benito Rosalia Stallion Laguna

Discipline

Red cards

As of August 23, 2018
Rank Player Club Red Cards
1 Alfred Osei Kaya–Iloilo 2
Omid Nazari Ceres–Negros
Robert Lopez Mendy Kaya–Iloilo
4 Rufo Sanchez Global Cebu 1
Dennis Villanueva Davao Aguilas
Adam Reed Davao Aguilas
Jason Cordova Stallion Laguna
Camelo Tacusalme Kaya–Iloilo
Robert Cañedo JPV Marikina
Shirmar Felongco Kaya–Iloilo
Angelo Marasigan Global Cebu
OJ Porteria Ceres–Negros
Louie Casas Ceres–Negros
Mike Ott Ceres–Negros
Milan Nikolić Global Cebu

References

  1. ^ a b c "PFL Season 2018 Begins March 3". Philippines Football League. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  2. ^ "2018 PFL Season set to begin March 3". Rappler. January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  3. ^ "Ceres captures back to back PFL titles". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  4. ^ Gasgonia, Dennis (January 23, 2019). "Football: Philippine Premier League replaces PFL". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  5. ^ "PFF Club Licensing Grants Club License To Eight PFL Clubs". Philippine Football Federation. November 19, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  6. ^ Go, Beatrice (January 8, 2018). "PH football club Meralco Manila ceases operations". Rappler. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Kaya FC signs agreement for transfer to Iloilo". Fox Sports Philippines. February 6, 2018. Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  8. ^ "Advisory: Stadium Status of Davao, Marikina, Cebu". Philippines Football League. Liga Futbol, Inc. April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  9. ^ Diaz, Ray Charlie (January 11, 2018). "Global Cebu appoints Allado as interim coach anew". Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Biantan, Jack (May 29, 2018). "Maro Out, Anzures In For Davao Aguilas FC". Pinoy Football. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  11. ^ Cebu, Sun Star (August 4, 2018). "Allado leaves Global Cebu". Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  12. ^ Foxsportsasia (August 20, 2018). "Global FC's revamp points to a promising future". Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  13. ^ Piñero, Margota (December 28, 2017). "Doblas se va al Ceres de Filipinas" [Doblas moves to Philippines' Ceres]. Marca.com (in Spanish). Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Ceres-Negros FC retains championship core in 2018 campaign". Ceres-Negros FC. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  15. ^ a b c Sevilla, Jeremiah (January 26, 2018). "Global Cebu signs 3 ex-Meralco stalwarts". Manila Times. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  16. ^ a b Averilla, Earl (June 1, 2018). "Brazilian defender Wesley Dos Santos Rodrigues joins Davao Aguilas". Fox Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  17. ^ Averilla, Earl (July 2018). "Super Swoop: Davao Aguilas unveil new players in transfer window". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Fernandez, Lawrence Andrew (July 20, 2018). "Filipino-British striker Gilmar to play for Global Cebu FC". Fox Sports Asia. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  19. ^ "Key signings boost Global Cebu roster". Cebu Daily News. January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  20. ^ "Striker Rufo Sanchez leaves Global Cebu". Fox Sports PH. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  21. ^ Averilla, Earl (May 21, 2018). "Wesley Rodrigues bids goodbye to his tenure with Global Cebu". Fox Sports PH. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  22. ^ Estrada, Kevin (March 2, 2018). "NPA No More: JPV excited to play in Marikina at last to open the new PFL season". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  23. ^ a b c d "JPV Marikina 2018 Player Roster". Facebook. JPV Marikina FC. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  24. ^ a b c Jacintha, Christian (March 3, 2018). "All eyes on local boy Eric Giganto as Kaya Iloilo looks to spoil Davao Aguilas home debut in PFL". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  25. ^ a b c Saldajeno, Ivan (January 6, 2018). "Laguna announces signings for PFL 2018". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  26. ^ "Point Deduction for Stallion Laguna FC". Philippines Football League. Liga Futbol Inc. April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  27. ^ "Point Deduction for JPV Marikina FC". Philippines Football League. Liga Futbol, Inc. July 31, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  28. ^ "JPV Marikina 1–4 Kaya FC-Iloilo". PFL. May 5, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  29. ^ "Kaya FC-Iloilo 4–2 Davao-Aguilas". PFL. May 20, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  30. ^ "Kaya FC-Iloilo 4–2 JPV Marikina". PFL. June 27, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  31. ^ "Kaya FC-Iloilo 4–2 Stallion Laguna". PFL. July 4, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  32. ^ "Ceres-Negros 4–2 Global Cebu". PFL. July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  33. ^ Averilla, Earl (August 1, 2018). "JPV Marikina rack up double digit goals against keeper-less Global". FOX Sports PH. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
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