MANILA – With the Philippines Football League (PFL) wrapping up its season this month, the countdown to the Copa Paulino Alcantara has begun.
For the first time, the PFL has opened its cup tournament to other clubs, even amateur teams, paving the way for collegiate squads to use the event as the start of their preseason buildup.
"We committed 16 teams to join, but despite that, we already have 20 in the lineup of teams, so for me, this is a testament to the growth now of club football," PFL commissioner Coco Torre said, adding that the Copa is scheduled to begin on July 15.
The five clubs which finished the soon-to-conclude PFL season led by newly-crowned champion Kaya-Iloilo headline the cast of the participating teams in the Copa.
Making a de facto PFL return, on the other hand, are Loyola, Air Force and Davao Aguilas.
The Loyola club played as Meralco Manila during the inaugural PFL season in 2017 but left the league right after.
Recent developments, however, sparked thoughts of whether Loyola is pondering a PFL return.
Davao, on the other hand, played until 2018 but also ceased its senior team's operations afterward.
However, Davao has kept its youth program going and has tied up with the University of Makati for the Copa.
Davao recently renewed its ties with Shonen Bellmare of the J-League, also sparking some speculations from fans that a PFL return could be on the horizon.
Air Force, one of two military teams invited for the Copa, came during the 2019 season as an expansion club along with Mendiola, but only Mendiola has continued with its PFL participation.
Also joining the Copa from the Armed Forces of the Philippines is Army.
Among the other collegiate teams in action are the newly-crowned University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion Far Eastern University led by former Azkals Development Team member Gio Pabualan, Adamson, University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas.
Completing the field are the Cagayan De Oro Rapids, Dasmariñas, Garelli, Manila Digger, Pilipinas Dragons and Tuloy.
Torre said the Copa could serve as a gauge of which teams could be considered the PFL's newest member clubs.
"Those high-performing teams that we observe may be invited to join the league, so we'll also have an expanded league," Torre said.
When asked how many clubs he would want to see action for the 2023-24 PFL battles, Torre said, "A healthy number would be between 10-12... but let's talk about realistic targets. I'll be happy with eight, but if we reach 10 or 12, I'd be ecstatic."
Cagayan De Oro has long been rumored to join the next PFL season, and the Copa could serve as its de facto PFL debut.
A new Copa champion will be crowned this year as erstwhile winner United Clark begged off from participating for the rest of the PFL season. (PNA)
