The 2017 Philippines Football League was the inaugural season of the Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines.[2] The league was officially launched on April 21, 2017, at Shangri-La at the Fort in Taguig, while the first match of the season was played on May 6.[3] The PFL replaced the Metro Manila-based United Football League (UFL), which served as the country's de facto top-level football league from 2009 to 2016.[4] The league was made up of 8 clubs: 6 from the UFL (Ceres, Global, JP Voltes, Kaya, Loyola Meralco Sparks, and Stallion) and 2 expansion teams (Davao Aguilas and Ilocos United). Each club played the others four times (a home-and-away quadruple round-robin format), twice at their home ground and twice at that of their opponents', for 28 games. The teams that finished the season in the top four entered a playoff tournament to determine the league's champion.[5][6]
The 2017 season was the only PFL season to feature a playoff finals. The top four teams of the league's regular season, which concluded on November 28, progressed to the playoff finals, dubbed as the Finals Series. The Finals Series was held between December 2 and 16 and consisted of a two-legged semifinals, a third-place playoff, and the final match.[7] The final took place on December 16 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod, between Ceres–Negros and Global Cebu. Ceres–Negros won the match 4–1 and became the first club to win the PFL title.[8]
Teams
On November 24, 2016, it was reported that at least five teams will join the inaugural season of the PFL. Bacolod-based Ceres–Negros F.C. reportedly will move to Davao City, and a new club will be formed to represent Bacolod or the Negros Island Region. However at the time of the report, nothing has been confirmed by the club or the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).[9] Ceres later denied reports of stating that they will field a second team supposedly to be based in Davao City.[10]
Ceres, Global, Loyola, Stallion, as well as Kaya were confirmed by the PFF on November 29, 2016, as official clubs for the inaugural 2017 season and is projecting that three other clubs will join.[11] By December 2016, JP Voltes joined the list of confirmed 2017 PFL clubs.[12]
It was reported that a total of ten clubs expressed interest to join the league, eight of which have submitted documents required by the PFF according to PFF General Secretary Ed Gastanes. Green Archers United and a club owned by seaport management firm International Container Terminal Services, were the two clubs which withdrew their bid to participate in the league.[13] By April 1, 2017, the PFF has confirmed the participation of 8 clubs.[5]
Stadiums and locations
The PFF confirmed the following clubs with their localities and stadiums that will comprise the inaugural season of the PFL.[14]
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.
^1 Match abandoned at halftime due to deteriorating pitch condition by way of adverse weather. As per PFL rules, final score for matches abandoned at halftime and the second half would be the score of the game just prior to abandonment.[22]^2 Match deemed a forfeiture due to home stadium unavailability. Kaya awarded a 0–3 win ^3 Match deemed a forfeiture due to ambulances supposed to be on the venue got involved in an accident. Davao awarded a 0–3 win. Forfeiture affirmed on Nov. 22[23] ^4 Match deemed a forfeiture due to Ilocos' non-compliance with the league's franchise agreement. Meralco awarded a 0-3 win.[24] ^5 Match abandoned in the 78rd minute due to "poor visibility". Game ended in 2–2 draw.[25]
Finals Series
The top four teams from the Regular Season qualified and are seeded for the Finals Series' Semifinals. The 1st and 4th ranked clubs of the Regular Season are seeded in the first semifinals while the 2nd and 3rd ranked club were seeded in the second semifinals. The winners of the two-legged semifinals contested for the league title in the final while the losers played in a third place playoff.[26]
As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws.
Additionally, players may be suspended for more than a single match due to violations of the PFF Disciplinary Code. The Disciplinary Committee on November 7, 2017, imposed match suspensions and fines to players due to misconduct towards officials and/or other players.[29]
References
Notes
^The University of San Carlos Stadium was initially the designated home ground of Global Cebu as per the PFF.[14] However the venue still to be completed. The club had played at the Rizal Memorial Stadium for its home games prior to July 2017. They played their first match at their home locality on July 5, 2017, in their home game against Ceres–Negros at the Cebu City Sports Complex which was being rehabilitated by the Cebu Football Association since May 2017.[15]
^The home stadium of the club is located in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, a nearby town of Vigan. For administrative and marketing purposes the home city of Ilocos United is designated as "Vigan"
^Meralco Manila's league home match against Ceres Negros on November 24, 2017, was held at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite due to the NCAA collegiate league reserving Rizal Memorial Stadium as the venue for its NCAA Season 93 football competition opening day.[17]
^The game is considered as a Home Game for Global Cebu. Game was played in RMS due to unavailability of Global's home stadium, the Cebu City Sports Complex.[27]
^Biantan, Jack (April 27, 2017). "Biantan: Time for PTV4 to step-up for as PFL kicks off". Retrieved April 30, 2017. The Marikina City stadium is still undergoing repairs and is sharing the Rizal Memorial with Loyola-Meralco Manila.
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