Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Philippines Football League will finally make a comeback on Saturday night with a doubleheader at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Kaya Iloilo and debuting Green Archers United will lock horns in the first game at 4 p.m.
In the main game at 7 p.m., Ceres Negros opens its title defense against a heavily rehashed Stallion Laguna lineup.
The Philippine Football Federation, chief operator of the PFL, decided to revive the league after a fallout with Bernie Sumayao, the commissioner of the Philippine Premier League, which quickly folded after just one playdate due to discrepancies.
The seven clubs that are supposed to play in the PPL, the four clubs plus Global Makati, Air Force, and Mendiola, are all cleared to play in the PFL, especially Air Force and Mendiola, whose respective club license applications were finally approved by the PFF.
“We would like to thank them for coming on board and joining us for this noble effort in developing club football in the country,” said PFF secretary general Ed Gastanes during the preseason press conference at the federation’s office in Pasig on Friday.
For the PFL return, Coco Torre was appointed as the commissioner.
“I think he will be good,” Gastanes further said. “We will always support Coco and the league.”
The seven teams will play in a quadruple round robin season with each club getting two home and two road games each.
The team with the best record after 24 matchdays will be hailed as the league champion and will earn a spot in the qualifiers of the AFC Champions League.
