# 2019 Philippines Football League

The 2019 Philippines Football League was the third season of the Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines. Ceres–Negros are the defending champions. This marks the revival of the Philippines Football League as the league folded after the 2018 season to give way for the Philippine Premier League, intended as a successor league to the PFL, which proved to be short-lived.
The 2019 season started on May 25, 2019, and ended on October 19, 2019.
Ceres–Negros won their second title on October 12, 2019, by winning over Green Archers United 3–1 with two matches to spare. On October 19, 2019, Ceres beat rivals Kaya–Iloilo 3–0 to complete the first 3-peat in PFL History and by doing so got their 22nd PFL victory, leading them to the first invincibles this season.

## Teams

Seven teams participated in the 2019 season, including three debutants, Green Archers, Mendiola, and Philippine Air Force.
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Ceres Negros | Bacolod | Panaad Stadium | 9,825 |
| Green Archers United | Lipa, Batangas | Aboitiz Pitch | 1,500 |
| Global Cebu | Cebu City | Cebu City Sports Complex | |
| Kaya–Iloilo | Iloilo City | Iloilo Sports Complex | 7,000 |
| Mendiola 1991 | — |
| Philippine Air Force | — |
| Stallion Laguna | Biñan, Laguna | Biñan Football Stadium | 2,580 |

### Personnel and kits

| Team | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Sponsors |
| Ceres–Negros | Risto Vidaković | Carli de Murga | Grand Sport | Ceres Liner |
| Global Cebu | Andrew Piesse | Jerry Barbaso | Chronos Athletics | MMC Sportz, Aquafalls Water Station |
| Green Archers United | Joel Villarino | Tating Pasilan | Cutz Apparel | Globe Telecom, Orient Freight International |
| Kaya–Iloilo | Noel Marcaida | Jovin Bedic | Adidas | LBC, Fitness First |
| Mendiola 1991 | Dan Padernal | Aron Altiche | FAT | Gulf Oil Philippines |
| Philippine Air Force | Leo Jaena | Yanti Barsales | Defy Athletics | Elan Vita |
| Stallion Laguna | Ernest Nierras | Ruben Doctora | Nassau | Giligan's Restaurant |

## 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 | Players | Players | Players | Former Players |
| Ceres–Negros | Robert Lopez Mendy | Takashi Odawara | Bienvenido Marañón | Súper | Mahir Karić Blake Powell |
| Global Cebu | Kenneth Obananaya | Anthony Okoh | Emmanuel Otuyemi | | |
| Green Archers United | Stephen Appiah | Henri Bandeken | Kim Hyun-kyoon | Freddy Mbang | Joel Okono |
| Kaya–Iloilo | Jordan Mintah | Masanari Omura | Alfred Osei | Darryl Roberts | |
| Mendiola 1991 | Hamed Hajimehdi | Souleyman Ndepe | Dini Ouattara | Ricardo Sendra | |
| Philippine Air Force | Boris Moundang | Joel Okono | | | |
| Stallion Laguna | Edris Najm | Park Jong-cheol | Abou Sy | Yu Seungpyo | Christian Nana Dong-Hyeon Kim Andoni Suescun |
Notes
    1.^ Former players only include players who left after either the start of the 2019 season or the 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara.
Foreign players by confederation :
| AFC | Japan (2), South Korea (3), Iran (1) |
| CAF | Ghana (3), Cameroon (5), Senegal (2), Nigeria (3), Ivory Coast (1) |
| CONCACAF | Trinidad and Tobago (1), Canada (1) |
| CONMEBOL | Argentina (1) |
| UEFA | Spain (2) |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Ceres–Negros (C) | 24 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 99 | 12 | +87 | 68 | Qualification for AFC Champions League preliminary round 1 |
| 2 | Kaya–Iloilo | 24 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 60 | 16 | +44 | 56 | Qualification for AFC Cup group stage |
| 3 | Stallion Laguna | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 54 | 25 | +29 | 39 | |
| 4 | Green Archers United | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 42 | 37 | +5 | 35 | |
| 5 | Mendiola 1991 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 34 | 54 | −20 | 23 | |
| 6 | Philippine Air Force | 24 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 18 | 85 | −67 | 11 | |
| 7 | Global Cebu | 24 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 92 | −77 | 7 | |
* ↑ If the league champions cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage, they will enter the AFC Cup group stage.
* ↑ Since league champions Ceres–Negros were also Copa Paulino Alcantara winners, the league runners-up qualified for the AFC Cup group stage.

## Positions by round

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Ceres–Negros | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kaya–Iloilo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Stallion Laguna | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Green Archers United | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Mendiola 1991 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Philippine Air Force | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Global Cebu | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
* AFC Champions League Preliminary Round/AFC Cup Group Stage

## Results by round

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Ceres–Negros | D | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | D | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Global Cebu | L | L | L | W | L | L | L | L | L | D | L | L | D | L | L | D | D | L | L | L | L | L | L | L |
| Green Archers United | L | W | W | D | W | L | D | W | L | L | D | W | L | D | W | L | W | D | L | W | W | L | L | W |
| Kaya-Iloilo | W | W | W | W | W | D | L | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | D | W | W | W | W | L |
| Mendiola 1991 | L | D | L | L | L | W | L | W | L | W | L | L | L | D | L | D | D | W | D | L | L | W | W | L |
| Philippine Air Force | L | L | D | L | L | L | L | L | L | W | L | L | W | L | L | D | L | W | L | L | L | L | L | L |
| Stallion Laguna | D | L | W | W | D | W | L | W | W | D | W | L | L | D | W | W | D | L | W | D | W | L | L | W |

## Results

The seven clubs will play each other in two rounds of home and away matches. 84 league matches will be played in total.

## Season statistics
### Scoring
#### Top goalscorers

    As of October 19, 2019
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Jordan Mintah | Kaya–Iloilo | 31 |
| 2 | Bienve Marañón | Ceres–Negros | 30 |
| 3 | Robert Lopez Mendy | Ceres–Negros | 17 |
| 4 | Mike Ott | Ceres–Negros | 14 |
| 5 | Jesus Melliza | Stallion Laguna | 11 |
| 6 | Fitch Arboleda | Stallion Laguna | 9 |
| 6 | Jim Ashley Flores | Mendiola 1991 | 9 |
| 8 | Abou Sy | Stallion Laguna | 8 |
| 9 | Stephen Appiah | Green Archers United | 7 |
| 9 | John Celiz | Green Archers United | 7 |

#### Top assists

    As of October 19, 2019
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
| 1 | Stephan Schröck | Ceres–Negros | 21 |
| 2 | Bienve Marañón | Ceres-Negros | 10 |
| 3 | Paolo Bugas | Green Archers United | 8 |
| 3 | Hamed Hajimehdi | Mendiola 1991 | 8 |
| 3 | Robert Lopez Mendy | Ceres–Negros | 8 |
| 6 | OJ Porteria | Ceres-Negros | 7 |
| 7 | Jordan Mintah | Kaya–Iloilo | 6 |
| 7 | Darryl Roberts | Kaya–Iloilo | 6 |
| 9 | Fitch Arboleda | Stallion Laguna | 5 |
| 9 | Jovin Bedic | Kaya–Iloilo | 5 |
| 9 | Dylan de Bruycker | Ceres-Negros | 5 |
| 9 | Jim Ashley Flores | Mendiola 1991 | 5 |
| 9 | Angélo Marasigan | Ceres-Negros | 5 |
| 9 | Jason Panhay | Kaya–Iloilo | 5 |

#### Own goals

    As of October 16, 2019
| Rank | Player | Club | Own goals |
| 1 | Carli de Murga | Ceres-Negros | 1 |
| 1 | Resty Gumban | Green Archers United | 1 |
| 1 | James Dorego | Global Cebu | 1 |
| 1 | Aljo Zabala | Mendiola 1991 | 1 |
| 1 | Freddy Mbang | Green Archers United | 1 |

#### Hat-tricks

    As of October 9, 2019
| Player | Club | Result | Against | Date |
| Jordan Mintah | Kaya–Iloilo | 4–0 (H) | Green Archers United | May 25, 2019 |
| Bienve Marañón | Ceres–Negros | 5–0 (A) | Philippine Air Force | May 29, 2019 |
| Bienve Marañón$^4$ | Ceres–Negros | 8–0 (A) | Global Cebu | June 1, 2019 |
| Chima Uzoka | Stallion Laguna | 6–1 (H) | Mendiola 1991 | June 15, 2019 |
| Jordan Mintah | Kaya–Iloilo | 6–3 (A) | Mendiola 1991 | June 19, 2019 |
| Jimuel Ariola | Green Archers United | 3–4 (H) | Ceres–Negros | July 3, 2019 |
| Bienve Marañón | Ceres–Negros | 12–0 (H) | Philippine Air Force | July 13, 2019 |
| Stephan Schröck | Ceres–Negros | 12–0 (H) | Philippine Air Force | July 13, 2019 |
| Mike Ott$^4$ | Ceres–Negros | 12–0 (H) | Philippine Air Force | July 13, 2019 |
| John Celiz$^4$ | Green Archers United | 9–0 (A) | Global Cebu | July 14, 2019 |
| Jim Ashley Flores | Mendiola 1991 | 5–2 (A) | Green Archers United | July 24, 2019 |
| Jordan Mintah | Kaya–Iloilo | 5–0 (H) | Mendiola 1991 | July 27, 2019 |
| Robert Lopez Mendy$^4$ | Ceres-Negros | 5–2 (A) | Mendiola 1991 | August 10, 2019 |
| Robert Lopez Mendy | Ceres-Negros | 13–0 (A) | Global Cebu | August 28, 2019 |
| Bienve Marañón$^4$ | Ceres-Negros | 13–0 (A) | Global Cebu | August 28, 2019 |
| Mike Ott | Ceres-Negros | 13–0 (A) | Global Cebu | August 28, 2019 |
| Fitch Arboleda | Stallion Laguna | 7–0 (A) | Green Archers United | August 31, 2019 |
| Jordan Mintah | Kaya–Iloilo | 5–1 (H) | Global Cebu | September 7, 2019 |
| Robert Lopez Mendy | Ceres-Negros | 7–0 (H) | Philippine Air Force | September 14, 2019 |
| Jordan Mintah$^4$ | Kaya–Iloilo | 5–0 (H) | Philippine Air Force | September 25, 2019 |
| Jesus Melliza | Stallion Laguna | 9–1 (H) | Global Cebu | September 25, 2019 |
| Jesus Melliza | Stallion Laguna | 4–1 (H) | Philippine Air Force | October 4, 2019 |
| Jordan Mintah$^4$ | Kaya–Iloilo | 5–1 (H) | Mendiola 1991 | October 9, 2019 |

##### Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away
$^4$ Player scored four goals

### Clean sheets

    As of October 19, 2019
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Roland Müller | Ceres-Negros | 10 |
| 2 | Henri Bandeken | Green Archers United | 8 |
| 2 | Louie Casas | Kaya–Iloilo | 8 |
| 4 | Dini Ouattara | Mendiola 1991 | 4 |
| 4 | Nathanael Villanueva | Kaya–Iloilo | 4 |
| 6 | Hayeson Pepito | Stallion Laguna | 3 |
| 7 | Florencio Badelic Jr. | Ceres-Negros | 2 |
| 7 | Ronilo Bayan Jr. | Ceres-Negros | 2 |
| 7 | Patrick Deyto | Stallion Laguna | 2 |
| 7 | Nelson Gasic | Stallion Laguna | 2 |
| 7 | Ray Joyel | Green Archers United | 2 |

### Discipline
#### Red cards

    As of October 12, 2019
| Rank | Player | Club | Red Cards |
| 1 | Freddy Mbang | Green Archers United | 2 |
| 1 | Jordan Mintah | Kaya-Iloilo | 2 |
| 1 | Franco de la Torre | Mendiola 1991 | 2 |
| 1 | Kenneth Dolloso | Philippine Air Force | 2 |
| 5 | OJ Porteria | Ceres-Negros | 1 |
| 5 | Resty Gumban | Green Archers United | 1 |
| 5 | Arnel Amita | Kaya-Iloilo | 1 |
| 5 | Benito Rosalia | Stallion Laguna | 1 |
| 5 | Jovin Bedic | Kaya-Iloilo | 1 |
| 5 | Souleyman Ndepe | Mendiola 1991 | 1 |
| 5 | Antonio Albor | Philippine Air Force | 1 |
| 5 | Geve Cadiz | Philippine Air Force | 1 |
| 5 | Sean Kane | Ceres-Negros | 1 |
| 5 | Súper | Ceres-Negros | 1 |
| 5 | John Delariarte | Philippine Air Force | 1 |

## Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament.
| Award | Winner | Club |
| Golden Ball | Stephan Schröck | Ceres-Negros |
| Golden Boot | Jordan Mintah | Kaya-Iloilo |
| Golden Glove | Roland Müller | Ceres-Negros |