# 2017 Philippines Football League

The 2017 Philippines Football League was the inaugural season of the Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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.

## 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). Ceres later denied reports of stating that they will field a second team supposedly to be based in Davao City.
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. By December 2016, JP Voltes joined the list of confirmed 2017 PFL clubs.
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. By April 1, 2017, the PFF has confirmed the participation of 8 clubs.

### Stadiums and locations

The PFF confirmed the following clubs with their localities and stadiums that will comprise the inaugural season of the PFL.
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Ceres–Negros | Bacolod | Panaad Stadium | 8,000 |
| Davao Aguilas | Tagum, Davao del Norte | Davao del Norte Sports Complex | 3,000 |
| Global Cebu | Cebu City | Cebu City Sports Complex | 8,000 |
| Ilocos United | Bantay, Ilocos Sur | Quirino Stadium | 5,000 |
| JPV Marikina | Marikina, Metro Manila | Marikina Sports Complex | 15,000 |
| Kaya–Makati | Makati, Metro Manila | University of Makati Stadium | 4,000 |
| Meralco Manila | Manila | Rizal Memorial Stadium | 12,873 |
| Stallion Laguna | Biñan, Laguna | Biñan Football Stadium | 2,580 |
Home venues of PFL clubs :
| Metro Manila (3 clubs)Ceres NegrosGlobal CebuIlocos UnitedStallion LagunaDavao Aguilas | Metro Manila |
| Metro Manila (3 clubs)Ceres NegrosGlobal CebuIlocos UnitedStallion LagunaDavao Aguilas | Kaya–MakatiMeralco ManilaJPV Marikina |

### Personnel and kits

| Team | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Sponsors |
| Ceres–Negros | Risto Vidaković | Martin Steuble | Puma | Ceres Liner |
| Davao Aguilas | Marlon Maro | Phil Younghusband | LGR | San Miguel Corporation |
| Global Cebu | Akbar Nawas | Misagh Bahadoran | LGR | Cebu Tourism Board |
| Ilocos United | Ian Gillan | Adam Mitter | Puma | Metro Global, Pool World Philippines, Pyramid |
| JPV Marikina | Dan Padernal | Takashi Odawara | LGR | JK Mart, BranchForth, Santouka Ramen |
| Kaya–Makati | Noel Marcaida | Masanari Omura | LGR | LBC, Yellow Cab Pizza |
| Meralco Manila | Aris Caslib | Simon Greatwich | Mizuno | Meralco |
| Stallion Laguna | Ernest Nierras | Ruben Doctora | Nixáre | Giligan's Restaurant, Belmont Hotel |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Global Cebu | John Burridge | Sacked | October 2016 | Pre-season | Kenichi Yatsuhashi | December 2016 |
| Meralco Manila | Simon Mcmenemy | End of contract | December 2016 | Pre-season | Aris Caslib | December 2016 |
| Global Cebu | Kenichi Yatsuhashi | | December 2016 | Pre-season | Toshiaki Imai | January 2017 |
| Kaya–Makati | Chris Greatwich | Promoted to Team Manager | January 2017 | Pre-season | Noel Marcaida | January 2017 |
| JPV Marikina | Yu Hoshide | | February 2017 | Pre-season | Dan Padernal | April 2017 |
| Global Cebu | Toshiaki Imai | Resigned | May 2017 | 2nd | Marjo Allado (interim) | May 2017 |
| Global Cebu | Marjo Allado | End of interim tenure | June 2017 | 3rd | Akbar Nawas | June 2017 |
| Davao Aguilas | Gary Phillips | Sacked | September 2017 | 7th | Marlon Maro | September 2017 |

## 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 | Kota Kawase | Bienvenido Marañón | Fernando Rodríguez | Súper | Antonio Bello |
| Davao Aguilas | Miloš Krstić | Brad McDonald | Harry Sawyer | Marko Trkulja | Nikola Grubješić Bojan Mališić |
| Global Cebu | Yu Hoshide | Darryl Roberts | Rufo Sánchez | Wesley | Shu Sasaki Sekou Sylla |
| Ilocos United | Arthur Kouassi | Adam Mitter | Andrew Pawiak | Baba Sampana | William Ebanda Valentine Kama |
| JPV Marikina | Takashi Odawara | Atsushi Shimono | Takumi Uesato | Masaki Yanagawa | |
| Kaya–Makati | Robert Lopez Mendy | Jordan Mintah | Masanari Omura | Alfred Osei | |
| Meralco Manila | Joaco Cañas | Lee Jeong-min | Tahj Minniecon | Milan Nikolić | |
| Stallion Laguna | Kim Myungsu | Ko Kyung-Joon | Gabriele Mascazzini | Carlo Polli | Christian Nana Ryota Ishikawa Roland Sadia Yusuke Yamagata |
* ^1 Former players only include players who left after the start of the 2017 season.
* ^2 Also a holder of AFC nationality (Australia)
* ^3 Global FC also registered other foreigners for the international competitions.
          AFC Champions League : Ahamad Azzawi (Iraq), Serge Kaole (Ivory Coast)
          AFC Cup : Kemy Agustien (Curaçao), Darryl Roberts (Trinidad and Tobago)
          RHB Singapore Cup : Serge Kaole (Ivory Coast), Darryl Roberts (Trinidad and Tobago)
       During the mid-season transfer window, Darryl Roberts was added in the PFL team, replacing Sekou Sylla.
Foreign players by confederation :
| AFC | Japan (7), South Korea (3), Australia (3) |
| CAF | Ghana (3), Ivory Coast (1), Senegal (1) |
| CONCACAF | Trinidad and Tobago (1) |
| CONMEBOL | Brazil (1) |
| OFC | Papua New Guinea (1) |
| UEFA | Spain (5), Serbia (3), Switzerland (2), England (1) |
* ^4 Brad McDonald has both Australia and Papua New Guinea FIFA nationality.

## Regular season table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Meralco Manila | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 43 | 33 | +10 | 58 | Qualification for finals series |
| 2 | Ceres–Negros (C) | 28 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 76 | 27 | +49 | 57 | Qualification for finals series |
| 3 | Kaya FC–Makati | 28 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 52 | 35 | +17 | 47 | Qualification for finals series |
| 4 | Global Cebu | 28 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 47 | 37 | +10 | 47 | Qualification for finals series |
| 5 | Stallion Laguna | 28 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 39 | 49 | −10 | 35 | |
| 6 | JPV Marikina | 28 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 42 | 48 | −6 | 33 | |
| 7 | Davao Aguilas | 28 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 35 | 56 | −21 | 22 | |
| 8 | Ilocos United | 28 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 24 | 73 | −49 | 9 | |

## 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 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | Finals Series |
| Ceres–Negros | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Global Cebu | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Meralco Manila | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Kaya–Makati | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Stallion Laguna | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| JPV Marikina | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Davao Aguilas | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Ilocos United | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
* Finals Series

## 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 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | SF1 | SF2 | BF3 | Final |
| Ceres–Negros | D | W | L | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | L | W | D | W | W | W | D | W | L | W | W | W | D | D | W | D | L | W | W | — | W |
| Davao Aguilas | D | L | L | L | D | D | D | L | L | D | L | L | D | L | L | D | L | D | W | W | L | D | L | L | W | L | W | D | — | — | — | — |
| Global Cebu | W | D | W | L | W | L | W | D | W | W | D | D | W | W | L | D | L | D | W | D | L | W | L | W | W | D | L | W | W | D | — | L |
| Ilocos United | D | L | L | L | L | L | D | L | L | D | L | L | L | L | D | L | L | L | L | W | L | L | L | L | L | D | D | L | — | — | — | — |
| JPV Marikina | L | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | L | L | L | L | D | W | D | D | L | W | L | L | L | D | L | L | D | W | L | D | — | — | — | — |
| Kaya–Makati | D | W | L | W | W | L | L | D | W | W | W | W | W | D | L | L | D | D | W | L | W | W | W | L | W | W | L | L | L | L | L | — |
| Meralco Manila | W | W | W | W | W | D | D | W | W | L | D | W | L | W | W | W | W | D | D | W | L | D | W | W | W | L | W | D | L | D | W | — |
| Stallion Laguna | L | D | L | L | D | D | L | L | L | L | D | W | W | W | D | L | W | W | W | W | L | D | D | L | W | D | L | W | — | — | — | — |
Source: Philippines Football League

## Results

The eight clubs will play each other four times for twenty eight matches each during the regular season.
^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. ^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 ^4 Match deemed a forfeiture due to Ilocos' non-compliance with the league's franchise agreement. Meralco awarded a 0-3 win. ^5 Match abandoned in the 78rd minute due to "poor visibility". Game ended in 2–2 draw.

## 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.

### Bracket

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Meralco Manila | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Global Cebu | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Global Cebu | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | Global Cebu | 1 |
| | | | | | 2 | Ceres Negros | 4 |
| 2 | Ceres Negros | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | Ceres Negros | 4 |
| 3 | Kaya–Makati | 0 | 1 | 1 | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| | | | | | 1 | Meralco Manila | 3 |
| | | | | | 3 | Kaya–Makati | 1 |

### Semi-finals

All times are in Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8)

#### Meralco Manila vs Global Cebu (1st vs 4th)

Global Cebu won 3–2 on aggregate.

#### Ceres–Negros vs Kaya–Makati (2nd vs 3rd)

Ceres–Negros won 3–1 on aggregate.

### Final
## Season team rankings

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.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Ceres–Negros (C) | 31 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 83 | 29 | +54 | 66 | Qualification for the AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 1 or AFC Cup Group Stage |
| 2 | Global Cebu | 31 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 51 | 43 | +8 | 51 | Qualification for the AFC Cup Group Stage |
| 3 | Meralco Manila | 31 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 62 | Possible qualification for the AFC Cup Group Stage |
| 4 | Kaya–Makati | 31 | 14 | 5 | 12 | 54 | 41 | +13 | 47 | |
| 5 | Stallion Laguna | 28 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 39 | 49 | −10 | 35 | Did not qualify for the Finals Series |
| 6 | JPV Marikina | 28 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 42 | 48 | −6 | 33 | Did not qualify for the Finals Series |
| 7 | Davao Aguilas | 28 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 35 | 56 | −21 | 22 | Did not qualify for the Finals Series |
| 8 | Ilocos United | 28 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 24 | 73 | −49 | 9 | Did not qualify for the Finals Series |
* ↑ If the PFL Champion qualifies for AFC Champions League Group Stage

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

| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Bienvenido Marañón | Ceres–Negros | 22 |
| 2 | Fernando Rodríguez | Ceres–Negros | 21 |
| 3 | Jordan Mintah | Kaya–Makati | 18 |
| 4 | Takumi Uesato | JPV Marikina | 16 |
| 5 | Jesus Melliza | Stallion Laguna | 13 |
| 6 | Takashi Odawara | JPV Marikina | 10 |
| 6 | Iain Ramsay | Ceres–Negros | 10 |
| 6 | Harry Sawyer | Davao Aguilas | 10 |
| 6 | Phil Younghusband | Davao Aguilas Meralco Manila | 10 |
| 10 | Robert Lopez Mendy | Kaya–Makati | 9 |
| 10 | Rufo Sanchez | Global Cebu | 9 |
| 10 | James Younghusband | Davao Aguilas Meralco Manila | 9 |

#### Top assists

| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Iain Ramsay | Ceres–Negros | 12 |
| 2 | Stephan Schröck | Ceres–Negros | 11 |
| 3 | Bienvenido Marañón | Ceres–Negros | 10 |
| 3 | Jordan Mintah | Kaya–Makati | 10 |
| 3 | Miguel Tanton | Kaya–Makati | 10 |
| 6 | Tahj Minniecon | Meralco Manila | 9 |
| 6 | OJ Porteria | Ceres–Negros | 9 |
| 8 | Hikaru Minegishi | Global Cebu | 8 |
| 8 | Phil Younghusband | Davao Aguilas Meralco Manila | 8 |
| 10 | Kouichi Belgira | JPV Marikina | 7 |
| 10 | Matthew Hartmann | Davao Aguilas Global Cebu | 7 |
| 10 | Robert Lopez Mendy | Kaya–Makati | 7 |

### Hat-tricks

    As of December 17, 2017
| Player | Club | Result | Against | Date |
| Takumi Uesato | JPV Marikina | 4–0 (A) | Stallion Laguna | May 31, 2017 |
| Bienvenido Marañón | Ceres–Negros | 3–1 (H) | Kaya–Makati | June 24, 2017 |
| Fernando Rodríguez | Ceres–Negros | 5–1 (H) | Stallion Laguna | June 28, 2017 |
| Iain Ramsay | Ceres–Negros | 7–0 (A) | Meralco Manila | July 15, 2017 |
| Jordan Mintah | Kaya–Makati | 5–2 (H) | Ilocos United | July 19, 2017 |
| Takumi Uesato$^4$ | JPV Marikina | 5–2 (H) | Global Cebu | August 13, 2017 |
| Jesus Melliza$^4$ | Stallion Laguna | 5–0 (H) | Ilocos United | September 10, 2017 |
| Harry Sawyer | Davao Aguilas | 4–2 (A) | Ilocos United | October 18, 2017 |
| Rufo Sánchez | Global Cebu | 4–3 (H) | Stallion Laguna | November 2, 2017 |
| Fernando Rodríguez | Ceres–Negros | 5–1 (H) | Davao Aguilas | November 2, 2017 |
| Fernando Rodríguez | Ceres–Negros | 6–0 (H) | Meralco Manila | November 5, 2017 |
| Takumi Uesato | JPV Marikina | 6–3 (H) | Davao Aguilas | November 21, 2017 |
| Iain Ramsay | Ceres–Negros | 4–1 (H) | Global Cebu | December 16, 2017 |

#### Note

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

### Clean sheets

    As of December 14, 2017
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Team | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Roland Müller | Ceres–Negros | 9 |
| 2 | Florencio Badelic Jr. | Meralco Manila | 7 |
| 2 | Benito Rosalia | Stallion Laguna | 7 |
| 4 | Ref Cuaresma | Kaya–Makati | 6 |
| 4 | Patrick Deyto | Global Cebu | 6 |
| 6 | Marko Trkulja | Davao Aguilas | 4 |
| 6 | Nathanael Villanueva | Meralco Manila | 4 |
| 8 | Nelson Gasic | JPV Marikina | 3 |
| 9 | Zach Banzon | Kaya–Makati | 2 |
| 9 | Louie Casas | Ceres-Negros | 2 |

### Discipline
#### Red cards

    As of December 12, 2017
| Rank | Player | Team | Red cards |
| 1 | Jason Cordova | Davao Aguilas | 2 |
| 1 | Miguel Tanton | Kaya–Makati | 2 |
| 3 | Adam Reed | Kaya–Makati | 1 |
| 3 | Jalsor Soriano | Kaya–Makati | 1 |
| 3 | Nicholas Ferrer | Stallion Laguna | 1 |
| 3 | Jordan Mintah | Kaya–Makati | 1 |
| 3 | Sekou Sylla | Global Cebu | 1 |
| 3 | Roland Müller | Ceres–Negros | 1 |
| 3 | Daniel Gadia | Meralco Manila | 1 |
| 3 | Takumi Uesato | JPV Marikina | 1 |
| 3 | Ali Mahmoud | JPV Marikina | 1 |
| 3 | Paul Mulders | Global Cebu | 1 |
| 3 | Peter Fadrigalan | JPV Marikina | 1 |
| 3 | Milan Nikolić | Meralco Manila | 1 |
| 3 | Robert Cañedo | JPV Marikina | 1 |
| 3 | John Celiz | JPV Marikina | 1 |
| 3 | OJ Porteria | Ceres–Negros | 1 |
| 3 | John Kanayama | Ilocos United | 1 |
| 3 | David Fornea | Meralco Manila | 1 |
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.