Copa Paulino Alcantara 2022 set for March 14

 MANILA – Local professional club competition marks its return as the Philippines Football League 2022 season kicks off with the staging of the Copa Paulino Alcantara 2022 this coming 14 March 2022 at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.

The competition, named after Filipino football legend Paulino Alcantara, will see the seven (7) participating clubs compete in the cup, which will run three months from March until May 2022 to serve as the curtain raiser to the league competition.

PFF officials headed by president Mariano Araneta, Jr. and general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes welcomed the developments in local club football, which will see the clubs play more matches this year as compared to the past two seasons.

“Football fans have long been starved of a lengthy football season, and it is high time that we have a proper league season which will create rivalries and storylines among the participating clubs,” said Araneta. “The Copa Paulino Alcantara is also the perfect competition for the clubs to get their fitness back in time for the league.”

“The past two years has been a challenge for our clubs with the livelihood of the players and officials affected by the pandemic,” added Gastanes. “With the Cup scheduled next month, we will see the return of a healthy football competition, while still adhering to the health and safety protocols.”

The seven clubs will face each other in a single-round robin format totaling 21 matches. The top four teams in the elimination round will meet in the semi-finals. The losers of the semi-final will play in the Battle for Third and the winners of the semi-final will square off in the final match.

Defending Copa Paulino Alcantara champions Kaya FC-Iloilo and Maharlika Manila FC will open the Cup proceedings on 14 March 2022 followed by the fixture between United City FC and Azkals Development Team.

In compliance with the national guidelines to prevent COVID-19, the Cup will be staged under the Open-Environment with testing and Closed-Circuit protocols which was submitted to and approved by the Games and Amusements Board. Additionally, PFL also will implement a stop and go scenario in the event that the Alert Level is raised in Carmona, Cavite as to minimize the fixture congestion of the competition.

The clubs have already begun their preparations with training sessions already ongoing subject to the approval of their health and safety protocols by their respective local government units.

“It is important for our participating clubs to gain enough preparation for the upcoming league and cup competitions,” added PFL Commissioner Coco Torre. “We look forward to the start of the cup which will reignite the domestic football scene and we also anticipate for the clubs to host their home matches in their respective venues eventually.”

PFL is also in continuous talks of securing a potential TV partner, which will broadcast the matches LIVE on national television, for the duration of the cup and the league.

https://pfl.org.ph/copa-paulino-alcantara-2022-set-march-14/

AFC Asian Cup - Group B

 

Philippines In Group B For AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers

The Philippine Men’s National Team was drawn to Group B in the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 qualifiers following the competition draw held Thursday, 24 February 2022 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Philippines will face Palestine, Yemen, and hosts Mongolia in the single round qualifiers to be held from 08 until 14 June 2022 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The top team, along with the five best second placed teams will advance to the final round to be held in China on June 2023.

The Azkals will look to qualify to the AFC Asian Cup for the second successive time after qualifying in the 2019 edition for the very first time.

https://pff.org.ph/2022/02/24/philippines-in-group-b-for-afc-asian-cup-qualifiers/

AFF U23 - Philippines 2-1 Brunei

 

Azkals aim to stay alive

 

By 

Ian Suyu

The national men’s football team is tipped to go all out when it faces Brunei in its final preliminary game in the AFF U23 Championship at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Cambodia on Sunday.

The young Azkals march to battle at 5 p.m., looking to grab their first win that will boost their chances of making it to the next round of this prestigious regional bootfest.

The Philippines is currently seated at the third spot in Group A with one draw and one loss while host Cambodia remains on top with two straight wins.

Timor Leste is in second with four points from a win and a draw while Brunei is in the cellar with back-to-back defeats.

Only the top teams in three groups and the second-place squads will punch tickets to the semifinals.

The Filipinos could still have a case for second place should they beat the Bruneians and hope that the Cambodians will prevail over the Timorese.

Despite being in a tight position, Azkals head coach Stewart Hall said they are willing to gamble their chances just to claim their first win of the tourney.

After all, the young core of skipper Oskari Kekkoken, Ivan Ouano and Sandro Reyes doesn’t want to have another winless campaign like its Asian Cup qualifiers bid last year.

“The boys are in a good frame of mind, so we will be okay,” Hall said following their 0-1 defeat to Cambodia on Thursday.

“Our players are limping off the field (after the Cambodia game) so the first thing that we’re going to do is to get a good recovery.”

“We got to get good food and good rest and get the players ready again for Brunei.”

But beating Brunei is easier said than done.

Despite bombing out of contention after a 1-3 loss to Timor Leste, the lower-ranked Bruneians are raring to end their campaign on a high note by staging an upset of the Philippines.

The Aminuddin Jumad-mentored side is expected to parade the rock-solid crew of Syaherrul Nizam, Hakeme Said and Wafi Aminuddin.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2022/02/20/azkals-aim-to-stay-alive/

AFF U23 - Philippines vs Brunei

 

AFF U23 - Cambodia 1-0 Philippines

 

Livestream :

http://tv.vannaran.com/2019/06/btv.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR3t3QFMIQ2RZxl20kzwPa7emLurz3xtYxZ8rB4SwoyTcOl6F2C9oLMB5Bw

Azkals friendly in Singapore !

 Azkals will be playing a friendly in Singapore against Malysia on March 23 , reported Malaysia FA website today.

A second friendly for Azkals in Singapore in March is expected. Possible against Singapore on March 29.

Azkals draw with Timor Leste

 MANILA, Philippines — Striker Ivan Ouano saved the day as the Philippine U23 Azkals salvaged a 2-2 draw with Timor Leste in the AFF U23 Championship last Monday at the Morodok Techno Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Ouano fired a brace as he sparked the Filipinos’ rally from a one-goal deficit twice to force the stalemate and split the points for the two teams in the Group A opening match.

“We showed great character to come back both times to get the draw,” Philippine coach Stewart Hall said. “It’s a new and young squad but I’m pleased with their performance.”

The Timorese pounced on a Philippine foul inside the box in the fifth minute to take an early 1-nil cushion.

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2022/02/16/2161070/azkals-draw-timor-leste

AFF U23 - Philipppines 2-2 Timor-Leste

 

AFF U23 Championship 2022 - GROUP A - FT

Timor Leste 2

De Lima 5th, pen

Soares 56th

Philippines 2

Ouano, 45th, 62nd

AFF U23 - Azkals U23 Squad list

 

https://pff.org.ph/2022/02/10/philippines-mens-u23-to-compete-in-aff-u23-championship-2022/

AFF U23 Championship - Philippines squad list (Unofficial)

 Scott Woods (Northeastern State, USA)

Antoine Boutain (CF Badalona, Spain)

Justin Peña (Erskine College, USA)

Mario Cordioli (Montorio, Italy)

Jacob Maniti (MacArthur FC, Australia)

Sandro Reyes (Kaya-Iloilo)

Oskari Kekkonen (Kaya-Iloilo)

Jaime Rosquillo (Dynamic Herb Cebu)

Pocholo Bugas (United City)

Kieran Hayes (United City)

Griffin McDaniel (Stallion Laguna)

Gyles Encabo (Stallion Laguna)

Enrico Mangaoang (De La Salle University)

Andres Aldeguer (ADT)

Vince Parpan (ADT)

Quincy Kammeraad (ADT)

Pete Forrosuelo (ADT)

Ivan Ouano (ADT)

Lance Ocampo (ADT)

Mariano Suba (Mendiola 1991)

Philippines denied place in final of AFC Women’s Asian Cup

 MANILA (3 Feb 2022) – The Philippines women’s national team was denied a place in the final of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup when they fell to a 2-0 loss to South Korea in the semifinals earlier today.

In the match that was played at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, the South Korean girls booked their first ever appearance in the final off goals from Cho So-hyun and Son Hwa-yeon.

“It was a very tough match. South Korea were the better team and had more chances than we had. After 120 minutes in the last match, the players still fought right to the death,” said Philippines head coach Alen Stajcic.

“There’s an amazing amount of heart and courage in this group, and I’m proud of them. Everyone back home in the Philippines should be so proud of this group, who have come such a long way in such a short space of time.”

Just four minutes in, Player of the Match So-hyun headed in Kim Hye-ri’s corner as they then doubled their advantage in the 34th minute when an unmarked Hwa-yeon tapped in Choo Hyo-joo’s cross. – www.the-afc.com

https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/philippines-denied-place-in-final-of-afc-womens-asian-cup/