Philippines Football League
Season2020
DatesOctober 28 – November 9, 2020
ChampionsUnited City
4th title
AFC Champions LeagueUnited City
Kaya–Iloilo
Matches played15
Goals scored46 (3.07 per match)
Top goalscorerBienvenido Marañón
(7 goals)
Best goalkeeperAnthony Pinthus
Louie Casas
(3 clean sheets each)
Highest scoringMaharlika Manila 0–10 United City
(November 3)
Longest winning runUnited City (Oct 28 – Nov 6)
(4 matches)
Longest unbeaten runKaya–Iloilo (Oct 28 – Nov 9)
(5 matches)
Longest winless runStallion Laguna (Oct 31 – Nov 12)
(5 matches)
Longest losing runStallion Laguna (Nov 6 – 12)
(3 matches)
← 2019
2021→
2022–23 →

The 2020 Philippines Football League, also known as The Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways,[1] due to the league's title sponsorship, was the fourth season of the Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines.

For the first time, the champion of the tournament qualified for the Group Stage of the 2021 AFC Champions League, which was expanded to 40 teams from previous 32.

Originally scheduled to start on March 21, 2020, the league was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league was supposed to commence on October 25, 2020, under a shortened calendar with each club playing a total of only five matches. However the opener was postponed once again to October 28 due to five players and a coach testing positive for COVID-19, as well as due to anticipated inclement weather by Typhoon Molave (Quinta).

All matches were held at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite. The 2020 season played under a bubble format with all players and staff restricted to the Seda Nuvali hotel in Santa Rosa, Laguna, where they were checked-in for the entire duration of the season, and the playing venue in Carmona.

United City, which had been rebranded from Ceres–Negros starting this season, are the three-time defending champions. As Ceres–Negros, they have won every season of top-tier Philippine professional league football so far in the PFL era. They successfully defended their title when they won 7–1 against Stallion Laguna on November 6, 2020, with one match to spare and winning its previous three matches.[2] Kaya–Iloilo became the first-ever team in PFL history to remain unbeaten during the duration of the league and not win the title.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

See also: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Philippine sports

Postponement

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league's commencement, originally scheduled for March 21, was postponed at two times. First, the league's opening match was moved to April 18,[3] and was later moved again to late-May.[4] The league adopted a double home-and-away format for the 2020 seasons, with each club playing against each other four times for a total of 60 matches.[5]

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is planning to start the league on July 15 with practice sessions for the league's member clubs planned to commence on June 15. The PFF has submitted a 27-page document outlying the protocols on how to organize the league amidst the pandemic to the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) on May 30 for approval prior to sending the same to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on June 1.[6][7]

The IATF-EID announced on July 3, that it has allowed the clubs of the PFL to conduct training.[8][9] The PFF plans to start the season on August 15.[10] Staff and players of the member PFL clubs underwent RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 on July 8, 2020.[11]

A joint administration order by GAB, the Department of Health, and the Philippine Sports Commission[12] was released within the July 2020, but start of training was postponed due to the re-imposition of modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces from August 4 to 18.[13] GAB and the IATF allowed the league to start.[14] The PFF spent an estimated amount of ₱6 million just to start the postponed season.[15]

The kickoff of the league on October 25 was postponed due to expected inclement weather conditions caused by Typhoon Molave (Quinta).[16] Also nine people including five players and a coach from two clubs tested positive for COVID-19.[17] The league organizers maintained that the disease has been contained[18][19] and the season began on October 28, 2020.[20]

Format changes

Due to the league's postponement, the league for the 2020 season feature a shortened calendar to be played under a single round-robin format,[14] instead of a double round-robin format[21] with each team playing only five matches for the whole season.[22] Several situational calendars have been prepared for the planning of the league's schedule.[21]

There was a prior plan to adopt a playoff finals consisting of a semifinals and finals phase after the regular season.[14] The league last had a playoff finals in the 2017 season which was known as the Final Series.[23] This plan was scrapped in favor of a shorter schedule to minimize injury risk for the league's players.[24]

The Copa Paulino Alcantara for the 2020 season was cancelled due to the time constraints caused by the postponement of the league. Due to this, the league second placers will qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League playoffs scheduled for February 2021.[6][25]

Bubble

PFL Bubble venues
10km
6miles
none
2
1
PFF National Training Center
Map
Key:
1
PFF National Training Center
2
Seda Nuvali

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic players and staff of the PFL for the 2020 season were confined in a "bubble" setup. For the duration of the season they will only be allowed at the Seda Nuvali hotel in Santa Rosa, Laguna where they were checked-in and the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite where training and league matches were held. Players and staff underwent a series of test prior and shortly after entering the "bubble".[24]

Schedule

The PFL bubble followed the schedule below:[26]

Stage/round Date(s)
Pre-bubble entry RT-PCR testing October 16
Entry into the PFL bubble October 21[27]
League matches October 28 – November 9

The league final match day which was originally scheduled on November 12, 2020, was cancelled due to Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses).[28]

Teams

Carmona, Cavite
PFF National Training Center
Capacity: 1,200
Location of the PFF National Training Center.

Six clubs, including the Azkals Development Team, participated in the 2020 season.[29] Ceres-Negros rebranded as United City and competed under that name starting the 2020 season.[30] Green Archers United and Philippine Air Force decided not to participate for this season.[31] Newly formed Maharlika F.C. (later renamed Maharlika Manila F.C.) applied to join the league, which was eventually approved.[32][33] After a scandal involving Global F.C. refusing to pay their players' salaries, the PFF and PFL ordered Global to comply with the regulations and sort out all their payments within 10 days. After 10 days, Global had still not paid, and therefore their case was referred to the PFF's Club Licensing First Instance Body (FIB), and rendered them unable to compete in the 2020 season. Appropriate licensing fees for applicant clubs were waived due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

Stadium

Most league matches were originally planned to be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium instead of the club's designated home stadiums for the 2020 season.[34] However, due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches were held at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite, approximately 6.70 kilometers (4.16 mi) south of Metro Manila.[35] The clubs were requested to hold their training sessions at the venue.[36]

The Rizal Memorial Stadium and the Biñan Football Stadium were ruled out as possible primary venues for the 2020 season due to the venues being close to COVID-19 quarantine/isolation facilities (at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and the Alonte Sports Arena).[25]

The Games and Amusements Board allowed training sessions to be held at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona and the Blue Pitch at the Circuit Makati in Makati, Metro Manila.[37]

Personnel and kits

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Sponsors
Azkals Development Team Republic of Ireland Scott Cooper Philippines Marvin Angeles Philippines LGR Alphaland Corporation, Stream Mobile
Kaya–Iloilo Japan Yu Hoshide Philippines Jovin Bedic Germany Adidas LBC, Fitness First
Maharlika Manila Philippines Roxy Dorlas Philippines Jerry Barbaso Philippines Gameville Sportswear Philam Life, Reparil Ice-Spray, Arepa Nootropics
Mendiola 1991 Philippines Dan Padernal Philippines Ashley Flores Indonesia FAT Penson and Company, Focus Athletics
Stallion Laguna Philippines Ernest Nierras1 Philippines Ruben Doctora Philippines Cutz Apparel Giligan's Restaurant, Pi Tracer, Airlock389
United City England Trevor Morgan3 Philippines Stephan Schröck Philippines Montè Manila Regenerative Center, Midas Magnesium, Gatorade

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment
Kaya–Iloilo Philippines Noel Marcaida End of Contract December 31, 2019[38] Pre-season Japan Yu Hoshide2 Unknown
United City Serbia Risto Vidaković Force Majeure July 8, 2020 England Trevor Morgan3 August 21, 2020
Maharlika Manila None N/A N/A Philippines Roxy Dorlas August 24, 2020[39]

Interim coach

1.^ Philippines Ernest Nierras was only able to join Stallion Laguna on November 2, 2020.[40] Richard Leyble is Nierras' assistant coach.[41]
2.^ Philippines Oliver Colina was interim head coach for the 2020 AFC Cup. He took a leave-of absence from his original teams, Leylam FC and the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles.[42] Yu Hoshide took over sometime prior to the beginning of the season.
3.^ Philippines Frank Muescan was named interim head coach by October 2020 prior to the start of the season due to Trevor Morgan not arriving yet despite being signed in as United City's coach.[43][44][45]

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. However, the PFF waived the regulations for the 2020 season due to difficulties teams had in entering in the PFL bubble, such as player commitments and in-team COVID cases.

Club Players Former Players1
Azkals Development Team None Trinidad and Tobago Darryl Roberts
Kaya–Iloilo Japan Daizo Horikoshi Trinidad and Tobago Carlyle Mitchell Japan Masanari Omura Ghana Emmanuel Osei Japan Takumi Uesato
Maharlika Manila Cameroon Henri Bandeken Spain Joaco Cañas[46] Democratic Republic of the Congo Gary Epesso Cameroon Serge Kaole Brazil Daniel Matsunaga
South Korea Kim Sung-min
Mendiola 1991 Ghana Stephen Appiah Iran Hamed Hajimehdi Cameroon Souleyman Ndepe Ivory Coast Dini Ouattara Iran Milad Behgandom
Stallion Laguna Ghana Samuel Bonney South Korea Kim Dongyeon Senegal Ibrahima Ndour Argentina Ricardo Sendra Senegal Abou Sy
United City Spain Bienvenido Marañón Japan Takashi Odawara Senegal Robert Lopez Mendy Spain Súper[47]

Notes

1.^ Includes pre-season signings of players who weren't able to enter the PFL Bubble.
Foreign players by confederation
AFC  Japan (3),  Iran (1)
CAF  Ghana (3),  Cameroon (3),  Senegal (3),  Ivory Coast (1),  Democratic Republic of the Congo (1)
CONCACAF  Trinidad and Tobago (1)
CONMEBOL  Argentina (1)
UEFA  Spain (2)

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 United City (C) 5 4 0 1 25 3 +22 12 Qualification for 2021 AFC Champions League group stage and 2022 AFC Champions League group stage1
2 Kaya–Iloilo 5 3 2 0 5 2 +3 11 Qualification for 2021 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs
3 Azkals Development Team2 5 3 0 2 9 2 +7 9
4 Mendiola 1991 5 1 2 2 2 8 −6 5
5 Maharlika Manila 5 1 0 4 2 19 −17 3
6 Stallion Laguna 5 0 2 3 3 12 −9 2
Source: PFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.[48]
(C) Champions

Notes

1.^ As a result of the 2021 Philippines Football League being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, the PFF nominated the 2020 champions, United City, as the participating club in the 2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage.
2.^ The Azkals Development Team are a guest team for the PFL and ineligible to qualify for AFC club competitions.[49]

Positions by round

Team ╲ Round12345
ADT45333
Kaya–Iloilo12222
Maharlika Manila43455
Mendiola 199166644
Stallion Laguna34566
United City11111
Updated to match(es) played on November 9, 2020. Source:[citation needed]

Results by round

Team ╲ Round12345
ADTLLWWW
Kaya-IloiloWWDDW
Maharlika ManilaLWLLL
MendiolaLLDWD
Stallion LagunaLDLLD
United CityWWWWL
Source:[citation needed]
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Club ADT KAY MAH MEN STA UNI
Azkals Development Team — — — 2–0 — —
Kaya–Iloilo 1–0 — 1–0 0–0 — —
Maharlika Manila 0–5 — — 0–2 — 0–10
Mendiola 1991 — — — — 0–0[a] 0–6
Stallion Laguna 0–2 1–1 1–2 — — —
United City 1–0 1–2 — — 7–1 —
Source: PFL
Legend: Blue = left column team win; Yellow = draw; Red = top row team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ Match was originally postponed due to Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses).[28] However the match never took place[50] and league records considered the match to be a goalless draw between Mendiola and Stallion.[51]

Season statistics

Scoring

Top goalscorers

As of November 9, 2020
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Spain Bienvenido Marañón United City 7
2 Philippines Mike Ott United City 6
3 Senegal Robert Lopez Mendy United City 5
4 Philippines Javier Gayoso ADT 4
Philippines OJ Porteria United City
6 Philippines Kenshiro Daniels Kaya–Iloilo 2
Senegal Ibrahima Ndour Stallion Laguna
Philippines Chima Uzoka ADT

Top assists

As of November 6, 2020
Rank Player Club Assists
1 Philippines Hikaru Minegishi United City 6
2 Senegal Robert Lopez Mendy United City 5
3 Spain Bienvenido Marañón United City 4
4 Philippines Manny Ott United City 3
Philippines Mike Ott United City
6 Philippines Kenshiro Daniels Kaya–Iloilo 2
Philippines Javier Gayoso ADT
Philippines Yrick Gallantes ADT
Philippines Lance Ocampo ADT
Philippines OJ Porteria United City

Hat-tricks

As of November 6, 2020
Player Club Result Against Date Ref
Spain Bienvenido Marañón United City 6–0 (A) Mendiola 1991 October 31, 2020
Senegal Robert Lopez Mendy United City 10–0 (A) Maharlika Manila November 3, 2020
Philippines OJ Porteria United City 10–0 (A) Maharlika Manila November 3, 2020
Spain Bienvenido Marañón United City 7–1 (H) Stallion Laguna November 6, 2020

Clean sheets

As of November 9, 2020
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Philippines Louie Casas Kaya–Iloilo 3
Philippines Anthony Pinthus United City
3 Philippines Anton Yared ADT 2
4 Philippines Kenry Balobo Mendiola 1991 1
Philippines Quincy Kammeraad ADT
Ivory Coast Dini Ouattara Mendiola 1991

Discipline

Red cards

As of November 6, 2020
Rank Player Club Red Cards
1 Philippines Manuel Ott United City 1
Philippines Anton del Rosario Maharlika Manila

Awards

The following awards were given on November 9, 2020.[52][53]

Award Winner Club
Golden Ball Philippines Stephan Schröck United City
Golden Boot Spain Bienvenido Marañón United City
Golden Glove Philippines Anthony Pinthus United City

References

  1. ^ "Philippines Football League Embarks On Path To Return Of Competition". Philippine Football Federation. July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  2. ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (November 6, 2020). "United City remains as king of PFL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  3. ^ "PFF AND PFL STATEMENT – POSTPONEMENT OF PHILIPPINES FOOTBALL LEAGUE SEASON 2020". Philippines Football League. March 13, 2020. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (April 3, 2020). "PH Football League resets season anew to May". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  5. ^ Murillo, Michael Angelo (April 6, 2020). "PFL remains upbeat despite new season start pushed back twice". BusinessWorld. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (May 28, 2020). "PFF to submit protocols to GAB for possible PFL return". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Morales, Luisa (June 3, 2020). "Philippine football eyes return to pitch". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  8. ^ "PFF Advisory: IATF Approves Training For PFL Teams". Philippine Football Federation. July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  9. ^ "PBA, PFF plan next steps after IATF gives go-signal to restart". ESPN5. July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (July 7, 2020). "PFL eyes August start to new season". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  11. ^ "PFF Conducts RT-PCR Testing For PFF Staff And PFL Clubs". Philippine Football Federation. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  12. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan (July 22, 2020). "PBA, PFL still waiting for admin order for practice return". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved July 22, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ Bacnis, Justin (August 18, 2020). "Hope up for pro leagues as Metro Manila put under GCQ". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  14. ^ a b c Pedralvez, Manolo (October 9, 2020). "Football: Pro sports regulator GAB OKs PFL opening on Oct. 24". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  15. ^ Suyu, Ian (October 14, 2020). "PFL season costs P6M". Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  16. ^ Morales, Luisa (October 25, 2020). "PFL postpones kickoff due to COVID-19 positive tests, inclement weather". Philippine Star. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  17. ^ Terrado, Reuben (October 25, 2020). "PFL postponing season opener as nine personnel test COVID-19 positive". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  18. ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (October 25, 2020). "PFL's Carmona bubble to open on Wednesday". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  19. ^ Terrado, Reuben (October 26, 2020). "PFL bubble season finally kicks on Wednesday with a rejigged sked". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
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  21. ^ a b Terrado, Jonas (July 9, 2020). "PFL to roll with single-round format". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  22. ^ "PFL reverts back to league format for Carmona bubble season". Tiebreaker Times. October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  23. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan (October 9, 2020). "'Finals Series' makes comeback in PFL bubble". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  24. ^ a b Lozada, Bong (October 14, 2020). "All set for condensed PFL bubble". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  25. ^ a b Cabanlong, Xy-Zha (May 27, 2020). "PFF prexy Nonong Araneta hopeful on football's return in PH". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  26. ^ Terrad, Reuben (October 14, 2020). "PFL set for compact season on October 25 with strict protocols". Spin.ph. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  27. ^ Terrado, Reuben (October 22, 2020). "Six PFL clubs now inside Sta. Rosa bubble for 2020 season". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  28. ^ a b "'Ulysses' forces postponement of PFL finale". Philippine News Agency. November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  29. ^ Henson, Joaquin (December 20, 2019). "Football kicks forward". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  30. ^ del Rosario, Paolo (July 23, 2020). "Ownership transfer official: Ceres Negros to rebrand to United City FC". ESPN5. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  31. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (January 9, 2020). "Green Archers United begs off from PFL 2020". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  32. ^ "Maharlika FC signifies intent to join the PFL". BusinessWorld. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  33. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan (August 6, 2020). "Anton Del Rosario bares Maharlika Manila seeking PFL license". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  34. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan (February 29, 2020). "Mendiola in talks with Imus city government for hosting PFL matches". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved March 2, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  35. ^ Tupas (May 8, 2020). "PFF eyes K-League as blueprint for PFL season start". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  36. ^ Tupas, Cedelf (May 19, 2020). "Taking its cue from the Bundesliga, PFL to apply own safety measures". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  37. ^ Pedralvez, Manolo (September 13, 2020). "Football: Gov't regulators satisfied with protocols set at PFL's Carmona training site". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  38. ^ Co, Adrian Stewart (January 11, 2020). "Kaya bids farewell to Marcaida". Panay News. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  39. ^ Co, Adrian Stewart (September 1, 2020). "Maharlika FC unveils roster, head coach". Panay News. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  40. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (November 3, 2020). "Nierras arrives in PFL bubble ahead of Stallion-Kaya clash". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  41. ^ "PFL: Maharlika Manila rallies to down Stallion-Laguna FC". ABS-CBN News. October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  42. ^ "Cebuano Colina is coach of Kaya FC". Cebu Daily News. February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  43. ^ Suyu, Ian (October 14, 2020). "Schrock ready to roll". Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020. Head coach Trevor Morgan is not yet around, but the squad remains composed, thanks to former Ceres mentor Frank Muescan manning to fort.
  44. ^ "Management". United City Football Club. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  45. ^ "United City F.C. Official Coaches". Twitter. United City F.C.
  46. ^ Saldejano, Ivan Stewart (September 2, 2020). "Maharlika Manila gets PFL license". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  47. ^ "End of an Era: Ceres-Negros set for name, ownership change". Tiebreaker Times. July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  48. ^ "PFL 2020: A Sprint to the Finish". GMA News. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  49. ^ Co, Adrian Stewart (November 10, 2020). "ADT blank Stallion Laguna in PFL campaign ender". Panay News. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  50. ^ del Carmen, Lorenzo (November 29, 2020). "Season of uncertainty ends on a high for PFL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  51. ^ "Fixtures". Philippines Football League. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  52. ^ Go, Beatrice (November 9, 2020). "Stephan Schrock named 2020 PFL MVP". Rappler. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  53. ^ Morales, Luisa (November 11, 2020). "PFL champs United City FC sweep individual awards". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
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