04 January 2014

UFL back on January 11 with 9 teams . Triple round robin format

From UFL Media Officer Jing Jamlang:


After Loyola Meralco Sparks' title-winning efforts in the UFL Cup, attentions now turn to the 2014 League, which starts in less than two weeks. United Football League fans can prime themselves for an exciting shakeup this season, with more matches to enjoy, and new clubs to follow. 

After the UFL's Technical Committee secured approval for their recommendations regarding the format of the highly anticipated competition, it was decided that the UFL's First Division will be composed of Nine Teams, playing in a Triple Round Robin. Also, the Second Division will be expanded to 12 Teams, while retaining its Double Round Robin format. 

Scheduled to kickoff on a Saturday, January 11, UFL fans can look forward to a First Division campaign that will run a month longer than last year's, with rivals having to clash one extra time. The adjustment increases a team's number of games from 18 to 24, reinforcing the idea that unlike the Cup, the League is a marathon, not a sprint. 

The First Division will be without Nomads FC, last season's eighth placers. The club voluntarily dropped down to the lower division due to its inability to comply with the Foreigner Cap Rule, which states a minimum of six Filipino players be on the pitch at all times. They join the fairytale club of the recent UFL Cup, Philippine Air Force, who were relegated from the First Division last season. 

Competition will be incredibly fierce in the nation's second tier, with Ceres La-Salle FC and Manila Jeepney joining the battle to earn passage into the top flight. Ceres' first Cup run may have been halted in the quarterfinals, but their victory over Global to defend their PFF Smart National Club Championship title means they are automatic contenders for promotion. Despite their credentials, the quest for qualification into the First Division won't be easy, with several clubs proving their mettle in the recent Cup.

New team Manila Jeepney showed promise when they advanced to the knockout stages in their first ever crack at the competition. Union Internacional Manila put together a very impressive run, but were denied a semi-final berth by Air Force's late-game heroics. With the intensely competitive nature now of the Second Division, a spot in the First Division has become exponentially more valuable. Team Socceroo will be among the first to reap the benefits, having been promoted after their dominating title run in the Second Division last year.

Champions Stallion will be looking to defend their well-earned title, but it won't be easy as they face ever-improving competition. The likes of Loyola, Pachanga Diliman, and Green Archers United have developed dramatically in the last few months, while Global and Kaya remain perennial dangerous threats. PSG FC, who finished seventh last season, will be looking to recover from failing to compete in the UFL Cup. Given the division's quality, Philippine Army, who narrowly avoided relegation last year, could be facing a real fight to stay in the top flight.

The Prawn Sandwich Brigade Blog

13 comments:

  1. All in all great news! Especially that Ceres joined the UFL! Div 2 is going to be extremely competitive this year with Airforce, Ceres, Union and Jeepney fighting for promotion and with Forza and CQCU as well.

    Btw, Does this mean that two teams will be directly promoted whilet the third placed team will take part in a relegation play off, so that div 1 can have 10 teams again next year? Atleast that is what Ritchie said in the episode of Hans On.

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  2. Its nice to hear Ceres FC is playing in UFL. but whattabout Queen City Utd? are they back in division 2?

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    1. I don't think so. I think it is going to be the 10 teams from last season without CQCU, and Nomads, Jeepney and Ceres as the new teams to complete the full 12 teams in div 2.

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    2. yes, I think you are right. Cebu Queen City United is not participating.

      Ceres to play home matches in BAcolod ?

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    3. Oh that would be awesome! But isn't the reason why CQCU didn't take part in last years league the fact that they weren't allowed to play their home games in Cebu? Why would they change that for Ceres? The teams in division 2 (especially Nomads) don't have the money for that yet.

      Unless Tiger Air will pay for all of that then that's fine with me.

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    4. I was just asking if Ceres Fc will play home matches in Bacolod . I asked a Ceres player but he did not know.

      Maybe Ceres and Tiger Air can pay.

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  3. new year, new crap from the ufl! triple round robin?? lol! pff, hurry up and get the national league up and running already!!!

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    1. You do realize that many heads of the UFL are also helping with the planning of the national league? Don't expect anything to get better.

      The reason why they decided to go with the triple round robin format (which the SPL does as well), is because they didn't want to have a second relegation play-off game for Nomads, who voluntarily went one league down.

      I think the solution is both fair and great, as this means more football! And if you are complaining about more football then why are you even here?

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    2. "You do realize that many heads of the UFL are also helping with the planning of the national league?"

      In that case, football is well and truly fucked in the Philippines!!

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    3. "And if you are complaining about more football then why are you even here?"

      It's not about having more football played, it's the fact that this is just another thing in the line up of crap the ufl is doing. This in particular seems to stes from the fact that there will only be nine teams in D1. The ufl is just messed up, period and can't really take it seriously as a proper league!!

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    4. basketball fan kasi yang hayop nayan kaya walang magandang masabi sa tungkol football. PANDAK naman di makadakdak ng ring

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    5. Lol midget pinoy footballers think they can hang with europeans lol height is might even in this boringsport

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  4. yes, I think you are right. Cebu Queen City United is not participating.

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