PFL 2020: A Sprint to the Finish

The league title, as the old adage goes, is almost always won by the team who performed the most consistently throughout the season.

But with each team playing only five games to determine the 2020 Philippines Football League champions, consistency might take a back seat to a hot run of form and some good old-fashioned luck.

This new tournament format, adapted due to COVID-19, comes at a time when the stakes for winning the league could not be higher.

With no less than a slot in the prestigious AFC Champions League at stake for the 2020 PFL Champions — and a slot in the Champions League playoffs for the runners-up — all six teams are most certainly raring to go and win it all.

Kaya Iloilo, United City, Stallion, Mendiola, Maharlika and the Azkals Development Team are taking part in the historic 2020 PFL season, which will be held from October 28 to November 12 at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.

Each team will face each other only once, which makes every match a virtual do-or-die game, especially for the title contenders.

Teams will play in five matchdays for 13 days – truly a grueling schedule – after which the team with the most points will be crowned champions.

A very short league season also means that every goal counts, as goal difference will be the tie-breaker should teams end up with the same amount of points after five rounds.

Should goal difference still be equal, the team with the highest number of goals scored will be champions.

With key additions in Dylan de Bruycker and OJ Clarino bolstering a veteran squad led by captain Jovin Bedic, Simone Rota and Masa Omura, Kaya FC-Iloilo should be the favorites to lift their first ever league title.

Manager Paul Tolentino says ‘being one of the favored teams does not change their focus.’

“We all start from zero points and you need to earn every point every step of the way”, says Tolentino.

“(Defending champions) Ceres as we know it may no longer be together. But a lot of core players from that previous club are still playing together. These players know what it takes to win.”

Kaya Coach Yu Hoshide is upbeat: “Honestly this format gives chance to all clubs but we still have advantage because we have good squad and all players work hard for the (championship).”

Defending champions Ceres Negros may be no more, but newly formed United City FC have retained the core of the former Bacolod-based squad, and the players will be determined to continue its winning ways.

It is high treason to write off a team with the likes of Stephan Schrock, OJ Porteria, Manny Ott and Bienve Maranon, but the jury is out if they can cope with the absence of Super Herrera and Roland Muller, and more importantly, of multi-titled coach Risto Vidakovic.

Kaya and United City may go in as title favorites, but fans will dismiss Stallion Laguna at their own risk.

Head Coach Ernie Nierras says “Obviously my opinion is biased but Stallion must be considered as one of the TOP teams.”

“But do not write off the heart of the defending champions. Nobody wants to lose. So, it can be open to anybody as well. From my perspective I will consider all our opponents as favorites and play to beat them as always”

Expectations may be low for newly-formed Maharlika FC Manila, but with veterans Anton del Rosario, Joaco Canas and Serge Kaole, they will not be wanting for experience and leadership.

Mendiola FC will be bannered by captain Ashley Flores and talisman Hamed Hajimehdi while the young Azkals Development Team will hope to give the top teams a good run for their money.

Kaya and United City play against each other on the league’s penultimate matchday, on November 9 at 8 p.m.

It could well be the match that decides who will win the league, which will be telecast on the YouTube channels of the PFL, EXPTV and 1Play Sports.

After all that’s been said before about the inefficiency and challenges of the league, massive props have to be given to the PFL and the PFF for pushing through with the league in the middle of a global pandemic.

One of the six teams will emerge as the winner of the league, but with football action back, it can be said that the ultimate winners would have to be

Philippine football and the fans who have stuck with it through thick and thin.
The football action will be worth the wait. —JST, GMA News