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.

Philippines Football League

Season	2019
Dates	May 25 – October 19, 2019
Champions	Ceres–Negros 3rd title
AFC Champions League	Ceres–Negros
AFC Cup	Kaya–Iloilo
Matches played	84
Goals scored	322 (3.83 per match)
Top goalscorer	Jordan Mintah (31 goals)
Best goalkeeper	Roland Müller (10 clean sheets)
Biggest home win	Ceres–Negros 12–0 Philippine Air Force (July 13)
Biggest away win	Global Cebu 0–13 Ceres–Negros (August 28)
Highest scoring	Global Cebu 0–13 Ceres–Negros (August 28)
Longest winning run	Ceres–Negros[1] (May 29 – Sept 28) (17 matches)
Longest unbeaten run	Ceres–Negros (May 25 – Oct 19) (24 matches)
Longest winless run	Global Cebu (June 29 – Oct 19) (20 matches)
Longest losing run	Philippine Air Force (Sep 25 – Oct 19) (7 matches)
Highest attendance	906 Philippine Air Force 1–2 Kaya–Iloilo (September 22)
← 2018 2020 → All statistics correct as of October 12, 2019.

The 2019 season started on May 25, 2019,^[2][3] and ended on October 19, 2019.^[4]

Ceres–Negros won their second title on October 12, 2019, by winning over Green Archers United 3–1 with two matches to spare.^[5] 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.^[2]

Team	Location	Stadium	Capacity
Ceres Negros	Bacolod	Panaad Stadium [note 1]	9,825
Green Archers United	Lipa, Batangas	Aboitiz Pitch	1,500
Global Cebu[note 2]	Cebu City	Cebu City Sports Complex[note 3]
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				Former Players1
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[a]
2	Kaya–Iloilo	24	18	2	4	60	16	+44	56	Qualification for AFC Cup group stage[b]
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

Source: PFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:

1. If the league champions cannot qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage, they will enter the AFC Cup group stage.
2. 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

Updated to match(es) played on October 12, 2019. Source: ^{[citation needed]}

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

Updated to match(es) played on October 19, 2019. Source: ^{[citation needed]}
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

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

First round Home \ Away CER GAU KAY GLC MEN PAF STA Ceres–Negros — 2–0 2–1 3–0[a] 4–0 12–0 2–2 Green Archers United 3–4 — 0–0 1–0 2–5 4–0 0–0 Kaya–Iloilo 0–1 4–0 — 1–0 5–0 5–0 1–0 Global Cebu 0–8 0–9 0–2 — 0–3[b] 3–1 1–4 Mendiola 1991 2–5 1–5 3–6 4–0 — 1–1 0–1 Philippine Air Force 0–5 0–3 0–5 3–2 1–3 — 0–3 Stallion Laguna 0–2[c] 0–0 0–2 5–1 6–1 6–2 — Updated to match(es) played on September 22, 2019. Source: PFL Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. Notes: Global forfeited the match due to an inability to form a team. The result is 0-3 in favor of Ceres. Global forfeited the match due to an "organizational issue". The result is 0-3 in favor of Mendiola 1991. Match was cancelled due to unplayable pitch brought by adverse weather conditions in Biñan, Laguna. The Match shall be rescheduled to a later date this month.[7]

Second round Home \ Away CER GAU KAY GLC MEN PAF STA Ceres–Negros — 3–1 2–0 3–0[a] 3–0 7–0 5–0 Green Archers United 1–2 — 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–7 Kaya–Iloilo 0–3 3–1 — 5–1 5–1 5–0 3–1 Global Cebu 0–13 2–2 0–3[b] — 1–1 1–1 0–3[c] Mendiola 1991 1–4 1–2 0–0 3–0[d] — 0–1 0–0 Philippine Air Force 0–3 1–4 1–2 4–1 1–4 — 0–2 Stallion Laguna 1–1 0–1 0–1 9–1 0–0 4–1 — Updated to match(es) played on October 19, 2019. Source: PFL Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. Notes: Global forfeited the match due to an inability to field a team. The result is 0-3 in favor of Ceres. Global forfeited the match due to an organizational issue. The result is 0-3 in favor of Kaya. Global forfeited the match due to an "organizational issue". The result is 0-3 in favor of Stallion. Global forfeited the match due to an inability to field a team. The result is 0-3 in favor of Mendiola 1991.

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
	Jim Ashley Flores	Mendiola 1991
8	Abou Sy	Stallion Laguna	8
9	Stephen Appiah	Green Archers United	7
	John Celiz	Green Archers United

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
	Hamed Hajimehdi	Mendiola 1991
	Robert Lopez Mendy	Ceres–Negros
6	OJ Porteria	Ceres-Negros	7
7	Jordan Mintah	Kaya–Iloilo	6
	Darryl Roberts	Kaya–Iloilo
9	Fitch Arboleda	Stallion Laguna	5
	Jovin Bedic	Kaya–Iloilo
	Dylan de Bruycker	Ceres-Negros
	Jim Ashley Flores	Mendiola 1991
	Angélo Marasigan	Ceres-Negros
	Jason Panhay	Kaya–Iloilo

Own goals

As of October 16, 2019

Rank	Player	Club	Own goals
1	Carli de Murga	Ceres-Negros	1
	Resty Gumban	Green Archers United
	James Dorego	Global Cebu
	Aljo Zabala	Mendiola 1991
	Freddy Mbang	Green Archers United

Hat-tricks

As of October 9, 2019

Player	Club	Result	Against	Date	Ref
Jordan Mintah	Kaya–Iloilo	4–0 (H)	Green Archers United	May 25, 2019	[8]
Bienve Marañón	Ceres–Negros	5–0 (A)	Philippine Air Force	May 29, 2019	[9]
Bienve Marañón4	Ceres–Negros	8–0 (A)	Global Cebu	June 1, 2019	[10]
Chima Uzoka	Stallion Laguna	6–1 (H)	Mendiola 1991	June 15, 2019	[11]
Jordan Mintah	Kaya–Iloilo	6–3 (A)		June 19, 2019	[12]
Jimuel Ariola	Green Archers United	3–4 (H)	Ceres–Negros	July 3, 2019	[13]
Bienve Marañón	Ceres–Negros	12–0 (H)	Philippine Air Force	July 13, 2019	[14]
Stephan Schröck
Mike Ott4
John Celiz4	Green Archers United	9–0 (A)	Global Cebu	July 14, 2019	[15]
Jim Ashley Flores	Mendiola 1991	5–2 (A)	Green Archers United	July 24, 2019	[16]
Jordan Mintah	Kaya–Iloilo	5–0 (H)	Mendiola 1991	July 27, 2019	[17]
Robert Lopez Mendy4	Ceres-Negros	5–2 (A)		August 10, 2019	[18]
Robert Lopez Mendy	Ceres-Negros	13–0 (A)	Global Cebu	August 28, 2019	[19]
Bienve Marañón4
Mike Ott
Fitch Arboleda	Stallion Laguna	7–0 (A)	Green Archers United	August 31, 2019	[20]
Jordan Mintah	Kaya–Iloilo	5–1 (H)	Global Cebu	September 7, 2019	[21]
Robert Lopez Mendy	Ceres-Negros	7–0 (H)	Philippine Air Force	September 14, 2019	[22]
Jordan Mintah4	Kaya–Iloilo	5–0 (H)		September 25, 2019	[23]
Jesus Melliza	Stallion Laguna	9–1 (H)	Global Cebu		[23]
Jesus Melliza	Stallion Laguna	4–1 (H)	Philippine Air Force	October 4, 2019	[24]
Jordan Mintah4	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
	Louie Casas	Kaya–Iloilo
4	Dini Ouattara	Mendiola 1991	4
	Nathanael Villanueva	Kaya–Iloilo
6	Hayeson Pepito	Stallion Laguna	3
7	Florencio Badelic Jr.	Ceres-Negros	2
	Ronilo Bayan Jr.	Ceres-Negros
	Patrick Deyto	Stallion Laguna
	Nelson Gasic	Stallion Laguna
	Ray Joyel	Green Archers United

Discipline

Red cards

As of October 12, 2019

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

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament.^[25]

Award	Winner	Club
Golden Ball	Stephan Schröck	Ceres-Negros
Golden Boot	Jordan Mintah	Kaya-Iloilo
Golden Glove	Roland Müller	Ceres-Negros

Notes

1. While the Panaad Stadium is the designated home venue of Ceres Negros, no PFL match was played at the stadium for the 2019 season.^[6]
2. Referred to as Global Cebu, the club's old name, by the Philippine Football League in official league communications due to licensing issues, the club refers to itself as Global Makati and the crest present on the team's actual kits uses the Makati name.
3. As Global Makati, the club had nominated the University of Makati Stadium as their home venue. However, no PFL match was played at the venue due to the club's licensing issues.