2018 Philippines Football League

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 3 March and concluded on 25 August.[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. The postseason playoffs were discontinued 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.

Philippines Football League
Season2018
Dates3 March 2018 – 25 August 2018
ChampionsCeres–Negros
2nd title
AFC Champions LeagueCeres–Negros
Matches played75
Goals scored280 (3.73 per match)
Top goalscorerRobert Lopez Mendy
(18 goals)
Biggest home winCeres–Negros 7–1 Global Cebu
(21 July)
Kaya–Iloilo 6–0 Global Cebu
(11 August)
Biggest away winGlobal Cebu 1–11 JPV Marikina
(1 August)
Highest scoringGlobal Cebu 1–11 JPV Marikina
(1 August)
Longest winning runCeres–Negros (4 April – 12 May)
(5 matches)
Longest unbeaten runCeres–Negros (23 May – 20 June)
Stallion Laguna (14 July – 25 Aug)
(8 matches)
Longest winless runGlobal Cebu (27 May – 25 Aug)
(17 matches)
Longest losing runGlobal Cebu (21 July – 25 Aug)
(11 matches)
Highest attendance4,681
Ceres–Negros 2–1 Kaya-Iloilo
(4 April)
Lowest attendance0 (Behind closed doors)
JPV Marikina 1–4 Ceres–Negros
(28 April)
← 2017
2019 →
All statistics correct as of 30 August 2018.

Ceres–Negros won their second consecutive league title on 25 July 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.

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 8 January 2018, FC Meralco Manila ceased operations in the senior club level[6] and on 18 January Ilocos United F.C. announced their withdrawal from the league leaving only 6 teams for the 2018 season.

Stadiums and locations

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

Personnel and kits
Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt partner
Ceres–Negros Risto Vidaković Martin Steuble Adidas Ceres
Davao Aguilas Melchor Anzures Phil Younghusband 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 11 January 2018[9] Pre-season Marjo Allado (interim) 11 January 2018
Davao Aguilas Marlon Maro Resigned 29 May 2018[10] 3rd Melchor Anzures 29 May 2018[10]
Global Cebu Marjo Allado (interim) Resigned 4 August 2018[11] 6th Stević Ranković 18 August 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 Players 1
Ceres–Negros Toni Doblas[13] Bienvenido Marañón[14] Blake Powell Súper[14] Takumi Uesato
Davao Aguilas Diego Oliveiro Alves[15] Wesley dos Santos[16] Brad McDonald 2 3 Kim Sungmin[17] Takashi Odawara[17]
Harry Sawyer
Global Cebu Lee Jeong-min[17] Darryl Roberts[18] Milan Nikolić[19] Adam Mitter[19] Rufo Sánchez[20]
Wesley dos Santos[16][21]
JPV Marikina Ryuki Kozawa[22] Keigo Moriyasu[23][22] Atsushi Shimono[22] Tsubasa Suzuki[22]
Kaya–Iloilo Jordan Mintah[24] Robert Lopez Mendy[24] Masanari Omura[24] Alfred Osei
Stallion Laguna Carlo Polli Ko Kyung-joon[25] Abou Mouhamed Sy N/A Gabriele Mascazzini[25]
Ken Kensei[25]
  • ^1 Foreign players who left their clubs or were de-registered from playing squad due to medical issues or other matters.
  • ^2 Also a holder of AFC nationality (Australia)
Foreign players by confederation
AFC Japan (8),  South Korea (3),  Australia3 (3)
CAF Ghana (2),  Senegal (2)
CONCACAF Trinidad and Tobago (1)
CONMEBOL Brazil (2)
OFC Papua New Guinea3 (1)
UEFA Spain (4),   Switzerland (2),  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[lower-alpha 1]
5 JPV Marikina 25 7 2 16 46 63 −17 20[lower-alpha 2]
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) Champion.
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 30 August 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 30 August 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 30 Aug 2018
RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Robert Lopez MendyKaya–Iloilo 18
2 Bienvenido MarañónCeres–Negros 15
3 Phil YounghusbandDavao Aguilas 12
4 Keigo MoriyasuJPV Marikina 11
James YounghusbandDavao Aguilas

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

(H) – Home ; (A) – Away

Clean sheets
As of 29 July 2018
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Toni Doblas Ceres–Negros 4
2 Nick O'Donnell Davao Aguilas 3
3 Ref Cuaresma Kaya–Iloilo 1
Nathanael Villanueva Kaya–Iloilo
Hayeson Pepito Stallion Laguna
Patrick Deyto Davao Aguilas

Discipline

Yellow cards
As of 10 June 2018
RankPlayerClubYellow Cards
1 Omid NazariCeres-Negros 5
2 Alfred OseiKaya-Iloilo 4
Rufo SanchezGlobal Cebu
4 Stephan SchröckCeres–Negros 2
Jalsor SorianoKaya–Iloilo
Daniel GadiaGlobal Cebu
David BasaJPV Marikina
8 34 players 1

Red cards
As of 23 July 2018
RankPlayerClubRed Cards
1 Alfred OseiKaya–Iloilo 2
Omid NazariCeres–Negros
Robert Lopez MendyKaya–Iloilo
4 Rufo SanchezGlobal Cebu 1
Dennis VillanuevaDavao Aguilas
Adam ReedDavao Aguilas
Jason CordovaStallion Laguna
Camelo TacusalmeKaya–Iloilo
Robert CañedoJPV Marikina
Shirman FelongcoKaya–Iloilo
Angelo MarasiganGlobal Cebu
OJ PorteriaCeres–Negros
Louie CasasCeres–Negros
Mike OttCeres–Negros

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