Davao Aguilas FC holds Youth Football Day

Wes Meadows of the LA Galaxy, with the Davao Aguilas FC players at the team's Youth Football Day,
which was held at McKinley-Hill Stadium inside the BGC (Photo Courtesy: Mickey Sanchez/DAFC)

Earlier this month, Davao Aguilas FC conducted a Youth Football Day at the McKinley-Hill Football Stadium inside Bonifacio Global City, bringing together a hundred kids between the ages of eight and sixteen.

The participants come from a variety of educational institutions, from the likes of Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati, Letran, Paco Catholic School, PAREF-Woodose, Saint Pedro Poveda College, San Beda-Alabang, East Rembo Elementary School, Global Leaders International School, St. Anthony School-Manila, and La Salle-Greenhills.

Current Davao players Marko Trkulja, Matthew Hartmann, Jordan Jarvis, Gerald Layumas, Princeton Josue, Stephen Burda, Kim Versales, Brad McDonald, Richard Talaroc, and Andy Esswein.

Complementing them in overseeing the activity are three coaches from MLS side LA Galaxy in Wes Meadows, Job Quevedo, and Chris Howe. The stop is the second of their three-nation trip, having come from Korea to conduct tryouts for their second team. They then would head to Guam to conduct a football activity after this session.

According to Meadows, "It has been great to partner up with Davao Aguilas, their staff, and players as well. Obviously for us, with a hundred kids being here, we needed additional staff, and they have been very accommodating. It is great to work out and have this activity with a club here locally."  He adds, "The kids have been great. And for us, LA Galaxy, we are fortunate to travel all over the world, and domestically, be able to see a lot of players. I think in here in the Philippines, there's a lot of potential here. Overall, we are certainly pleased with the level."

Davao Head Coach Marlon Maro appreciates the partnership between the Aguilas and the Galaxy, knowing that this would help develop young Filipino footballers. He adds, "Events such as this one also showcases the technical capability of the club in finding future footballers in the country."

The Philippines Football League side intends to have similar events all across the country in the near future.

Undermanned Kaya FC-Makati succumbs to Davao Aguilas

Davao Aguilas FC’s Angel Guirado got two goals for the team and was named Man of The Match.

The Davao Aguilas took advantage of an undermanned Kaya FC-Makati side to take a 3-1 victory at the University of Makati on Saturday night.

The hosts were limited to fielding a 14-man squad due to suspensions and injuries, a lineup that included debut starts for the likes of Jayson Panhay and Chy Villasenor. They managed to hold things firm early on with the Angeles twins and Woody Ugarte manning the midfield, mitigating whatever they missed from those forced to sit this game out.

The visitors managed to break through in the 26th minute against the run of play, with Enzo Cheng finding Angel Guirado, who heads it past the line to score the opening goal of the match.

Kaya did manage to restore control after allowing the goal, and even had chances to equalize, including an attempt from Panhay that was saved by Nick O'Donnell. However, the half ended with Davao holding a 1-0 advantage.

The second half saw Kaya find their equalizer, as Alfrei Osei took advantage of a free kick situation by scoring the tying goal on a volley in the 58th minute. Unfortunately, it did not take long for Davao to re-establish the lead, as Harry Sawyer took advantage of Janrick Soriano misjudging a diagonal ball headed to the left flank in the 65th minute.

Guirado would net his second goal in the 74th minute off a similar left flank counter to cap off the scoring for the evening.

The victory is Davao's third for the season, and the first one that did not come against fellow newcomer Ilocos United. They still have three more matches remaining on their schedule, all of them against JPV Marikina FC.

Kaya concludes its season with 47 points, its seeding in the Finals Series hangs on Global Cebu FC's remaining schedule.

In the other match scheduled on Saturday at the Elpidio Quirino Stadium in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, hosts Ilocos United managed to hold aspiring top notchers Ceres-Negros FC to a 1-1 draw. Arnie Pasinabo's 77th minute goal neutralizes Adam Mitter's 35th minute strike. They face other once again on Tuesday night.

The Angeles Twins walking off the University of Makati Football Field

Post-game thoughts:

Davao Aguilas head coach Marlon Maro: “I’m happy and satisfied because we lost to Kaya on our home turf, and now we’ve beaten them as well on their home turf, and it’s because the players really wanted to win tonight. For me, the delivery of crosses was the main reason why we scored lots of goals. We were able to take advantage of our height. What’s positive tonight is that the players responded well to the plan.”

Davao Aguilas forward Angel Guirado: “For me it’s the team that’s most important. When the team works good, the team wins. I’m very happy because I scored, but most important is that the team has three points more and looking forward to also preparing for next season. This is good for the confidence of the team.”

Kaya FC-Makati head coach Noel Marcaida: “It’s a tough loss. If you’re looking at the 90 minutes, I couldn’t see that the Aguilas were really on top. When you go back to the first half, we were really playing well. We were combining, but we just couldn’t find that continuity of attack in the final third. In the second half, we played well in the first 15 minutes and were able to score a goal. But after that, there were moments where we allowed the Aguilas to play their game, which led to the two goals.”

Marcaida: “But for me, I give credit to the players who got their chance today, especially Chy (Villaseñor), who really played well.”

Marcaida: “We just need to move on. Anyway, the first objective at the start of the season was to be part of the final four, and we’ve been successful in getting that objective. The regular season is over and the Finals Series is a different story. We have two weeks to prepare for that. We go back to the pitch, work hard, and prepare for the first leg.”

Kaya FC-Makati seeks Finals Series momentum

Kaya FC-Makati vs Davao Aguilas FC

Philippines Football League action resumes tonight with a couple of simultaneous matches with Kaya FC-Makati hosting Davao Aguilas FC and Ilocos United FC hosting Ceres-Negros FC. Kickoff time for both matches is slated at 7pm.

Coming off a prolonged break, Kaya FC-Makati will finally conclude its PFL eliminations campaign against the Davao Aguilas at home in the University of Makati. They would have a chance to solidify its hold on third place with a victory against the visitors, with proverbial chasers Global Cebu FC just three points behind and a game in hand.

However, they will have to do it with a massively depleted roster. The PFL recently handed out suspensions, with Kaya bearing the brunt of the damage, as it involves three players: Jordan Mintah, Jalsor Soriano, and Adam Reed, who received the most punitive sentence. In addition, because of what happened in their narrow 1-0 loss to FC Meralco Manila, Jovin Bedic and Miguel Tanton are also suspended for this match.

Aside from them, Kenshiro Daniels is also sitting out today's match due to injury.

Noel Marcaida shared during the pre-match press conference that they will be fielding a 14-man squad against Davao, as a result of all these players being unavailable. He did say that this provides an opportunity for players who have yet to make their mark this season, including Chy Villasenor, who will be making his debut later tonight. The former FEU defender will stepping into Jalsor's role at the back, and he himself is looking forward to the challenge of having to deal with a Davao attack that includes those who have represented the country in international competition.

As for the Davao Aguilas, the theme for their remaining matches is all about next season. Matthew Hartmann shares that the team has been training and preparing well for their matchup, hoping that a strong finish to this season would eventually yield a strong start to the next one.

Tickets are available either through SM Tickets or at the gate. Field Side passes cost PhP 20, while Grandstand tickets cost PhP 350. One can also check the game out through this stream below.



In addition to this one, Ceres heads up north for the first of two matches against Ilocos. The Busmen are just two points behind FC Meralco Manila atop the standings, with two games in hand.

The streaming link for that matchup can be seen below.

Kaya FC - Makati seeks a midweek PFL win vs Davao

Kaya FC-Makati vs Davao Aguilas FC

Kaya FC-Makati seeks to continue building its momentum towards the Finals Series as it travels to Tagum to face the Davao Aguilas FC this afternoon.

Although the visitors have soundly beaten Davao in their previous meetings, this is the first time they will be meeting them since the hosts decided to not only retrofit the squad with new signings, but also swapped coaches.

Head coach Noel Marcaida said so himself, "We'll be facing a completely new Davao Aguilas team. They have very experienced players, and they are under a very experienced coach in Marlon Maro." He also is wary about this matchup, considering the team is in a stretch of three games in eight days, but acknowledges that the team is 100 percent mentally ready.

Maro sees this as an exciting match, especially since Davao is facing a team currently second on the table and competing for the title.

Even though they have virtually clinched a spot in Finals Series, Alfred Osei remains highly motivated, as he says, "We are trying to be at the top as much as we can, add more points, and finish where we want to be... That is the first, second, or third position.." He adds, "We try to win every game... We want to finish as high up as we can."

Osei is also hoping for a good crowd at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex, highlighting that it is a beautiful place to play football.

Philippines Football League rules on a couple of matches

The Sparks cross train in Baluarte in Vigan on Thursday night.

The Philippines Football League made a couple of executive decisions regarding matches that took place this weekend.

The first one came on Friday, when FC Meralco Manila traveled to Ilocos Sur to face Ilocos United FC. The league awarded a 3-0 forfeiture victory for the Sparks against the hosts, citing "as a result of failure to remedy, despite opportunity given, its non-compliance of the Franchise Agreement."

The end result of the win ensures FC Meralco Manila as one of the four participating teams in the Finals Series, as it has amassed 48 points, guaranteeing a top-four finish.

The second one came on Sunday, as the PFL called off the match between the visiting Davao Aguilas against JPV Marikina FC at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, citing non-compliance of Article 12.6 of the PFL Tournament Regulations, centering on the unavailability of at least two ambulances. For this matchup, the league will soon make its ruling pertaining to this matter.

Sawyer hat trick completes Davao home-and-home sweep

Davao Aguilas FC’s Harrison Sawyer does a hat trick and leads the team to its second straight victory.

From struggling to snatch a win in the Philippines Football League, the Davao Aguilas have snapped up back-to-back victories in a span of a few days, albeit against fellow newcomers Ilocos United FC.

After a 2-0 result this past weekend at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum, the team survived a grueling 14-hour travel to the north, and eked out a 4-2 victory at the Elpidio P. Quirino Stadium in Bantay, Ilocos Sur on Wednesday afternoon.

Harry Sawyer netted a hat trick for the Aguilas, putting the visitors ahead after eight minutes. The Aussie would double the lead just before halftime to put Davao ahead into the break, 2-0.

Kennedy Uzoka would pull one back immediately after the restart, but Sawyer would complete his hat trick in the 57th minute. Charlie Beaton made it 3-2 four minutes, later, but the hosts were just unable to find the tying goal.

Phil Younghusband's penalty in injury time completed the scoring for Davao, which now has fourteen points to their name in the inaugural season of the league.

In the other PFL match scheduled that day, JPV Marikina FC manages to overcome playing most of the match with just ten men, as they pulled off a 2-2 draw against Ceres-Negros FC at the Pana-ad Park and Stadium in Bacolod.

PJ Fadrigalan had been sent off in the 22nd minute after pushing the referee in the aftermath of the hosts getting a penalty call. The Busmen rode on Fernando Rodriguez for their offense, as he scored twice in the first half.

The visitors managed to pull one back in the 71st minute, thanks to Takumi Uesato, and then Ceres defender fouled Atsushi Shimono inside the area, forcing the referee to call for a penalty. Takashi Odawara converts the spot kick with seven minutes remaining in regulation.

Ceres almost had a chance of snatching the victory in stoppage time, as they were rewarded with another penalty. However, Rodriguez's hopes for a hat trick was denied by JPV keeper Felipe Tripulca, Jr.

With the point, Ceres remains in solo third place at 39 points in 18 matches, while JPV is level with Stallion at 28 points.

Davao tastes first PFL victory

James Younghusband of Davao Aguilas FC goes for the second goal, on the 65th minute.

Davao Aguilas FC finally got their much needed first win in the Philippines Football League this past weekend at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum. They beat fellow newcomers Ilocos United, 2-0, with goals from Harry Sawyer in the 24th minute and James Younghusband in the 65th minute.

Addressing the media after the victory, head coach Marlon Maro showed happiness, says, "I guess the week-long break gave us a lot of elbow room to do the adjustments, and develop our style of play. I am very satisfied that in the end, we ended up winning."

Maro adds, "We would like to thank the more than 4,500 fans as well for coming. The fans gave us both the strength and the fire to win this match."

Davao is now four points clear against Ilocos, with the latter getting an immediate shot at revenge on Wednesday at the Elpidio Quirino Stadium.

The other Sunday PFL matchup saw Global Cebu FC take all three points against JPV Marikina FC, with a 2-1 victory.

Stallion, Davao seeking bounce back today

Davao Aguilas FC continue their quest to finally secure their first win in the Philippines Football League this afternoon, as they visit Stallion Laguna FC at the Binan Football Stadium at 4pm.

The Aguilas were denied that winning moment last week, a 2-0 loss to FC Meralco Manila at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium last week. Both goals took place in the second half, as Aris Caslib made some adjustments on their offense, while maintaining their defensive game plan against the Younghusbands in their first match against their old club.


Davao interim head coach Marlon Maro bemoaned the depth situation he has with the squad in that loss. Since then, he has received some good news with Angel Guirado finally now available to play.


As for the hosts, they are looking to pick up the pieces after their four-match winning run was halted in emphatic fashion against Kaya FC last week, losing 4-0 at the University of Makati.

This match will feature some offensive threats, as Jhanjhan Melliza will be up against Harry Sawyer and Dylan De Bruycker.


Streaming link for the match can be viewed below



Notes: Kim Kyung So and Carlo Polli are both suspended for Stallion this matchup.

FC Meralco Manila beats Davao, spoil Younghusbands homecoming

In the lone Saturday night matchup for the Philippines Football League, FC Meralco Manila spoiled the much-anticipated Younghusband homecoming with a 2-0 victory over the Davao Aguilas at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Goals from Tahj Minniecon and Jake Morallo in the second half propelled the Sparks to the win, retaining their six-point gap against their upcoming opponents Kaya FC-Makati atop the PFL standings with 44 points.

The Sparks got the first scoring opportunity of the match, with Minniecon firing a long range attempt directly at Marko Trkulja in the 18th minute. Tahj got a second chance in the 35th minute, but his volley off a Tyler Matas throw-in sailed over. Daniel Gadia also had a chance just before the halftime whistle, but was off-target. As for Davao, Matthew Hartmann, Harry Sawyer, and Dylan de Bruycker came close to their respective chances, but unable to convert.

Davao had the first crack of breaking the deadlock in the second half, with Hartmann's left-footed shot forcing an acrobatic save from Junjun Badelic, but it was the Sparks that managed to finally score in the 52nd minute, as Anto Gonzales found Minniecon for the score. The Aussie sent a low drive to the left side of Trkulja for his fifth goal of the season.

Alvin Sarmiento had a chance to double the lead thirteen minutes later, but his volley sailed high. The hosts finally got that insurance goal from Jake Morallo in the 83rd minute, as the substitute nodded home a Matas delivery from the left flank into the lower left corner.


NOTES: Head coach Aris Caslib made just one change to the side that faced Global last week, with Gadia replacing team skipper Simon Greatwich at midfield. Canas inherited the captaincy in Simon's absence.

Matas has continued his "iron man" like streak in the PFL, having played every single minute for the Sparks this season.

Post-match quotes:

Caslib on Gadia being named as the Man of the Match: "Gadia understood his role, to control Matt Hartmann and play in front of the backline. He also worked well with Anto."

Gadia on playing alongside Gonzales, who coached him at UP: "Playing with Anto was like playing with my Dad. He taught me everything about football in college. He corrected me on the small details."

Caslib on their gameplan today: "Our plan was that when Phil and James get the ball, we would double-team them. That's why there were so many orange shirts around them whenever they received the ball."

Marlon Maro on the loss: "Two games in so short a time is hard for us."

Maro on the current roster construction: "Our team is not balanced. I have too many midfielders and not enough side defenders."

Younghusband homecoming set against FC Meralco Manila

Davao Aguilas vs FC Meralco Manila

In the lone Saturday night matchup in the Philippines Football League, FC Meralco Manila hosts the Davao Aguilas at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The 7pm kick-off will feature the much-anticipated return of the Younghusbands to face the team they used to play for the last six years.

Both sides are fresh from draws, as the Sparks snatched a point on the road at the CCSC against Global Cebu FC without scoring, while the Aguilas hosted Ceres-Negros FC for a 1-1 result that keeps them still without a victory in the PFL.

The hosts have won all three meetings this season, with the last meeting back in July at Tagum being the final game the Younghusbands would ever wear the orange kit. They are looking to strengthen their stranglehold atop the league, providing themselves just enough cushion against the contenders below them. On the other hand, the visitors still remain in seventh place, trying to fend off fellow newcomers Ilocos United FC in the battle at the bottom of the league.

Newly-minted head coach Marlon Maro gets to match wits once again with Aris Caslib. Both men are very familiar with each other's tactics and methods, having coaching backgrounds in the NCAA with CSB and San Beda, respectively.

Notes: Both Nate Burkey and Simon Greatwich are suspended for this particular matchup.

Quotes from the pre-match press conference:

Maro:

"We are coming out tomorrow for a win. The spirit is high, the mentality is positive, I can see the attitude in training that they really want to win."
"Tactically not much will change. We will just play to our strengths."
"We want to encourage our fans, but we have to win for them and the sponsors."

Phil Younghusband:

"We have the determination and motivation to win."
"James and I spent six years with Meralco. They weren't just teammates, everyone there were friends. But when we step across the white line it will be all about the team we are representing and we will do everything to make sure Davao wins."

"Before and after the game there will be some emotion when we see familiar faces but during the game there will be no love lost."
"We have the quality. We have a clear goal, structure, and organization. We've improved by leaps and bounds."
"Bojan has good size, experience, and knowledge. He will be a strong asset for us." (Bojan is Bojan Malisic, who made his PFL debut in their last match.)
"I know Aris likes to surprise teams and do something different (tactically). He does his homework and likes to go into detail.

Caslib:

"We have been competitors for a long time, but we are also very good friends off the pitch." (On the match-up against Maro)
"Phil Younghusband ever since has been all about quality. He is always consistent and we expect the same thing tomorrow."
"With Simon Greatwich suspended, we will rely on Anto Gonzales and Daniel Gadia to assist in the midfield. Tahj Minniecon can also help."
"Davao will play high and press us. They are dangerous in set pieces. We have to watch for Matt Hartmann on the break on the left side."
"Coach Marlon is a good manager with a lot of experience. He brings good man management to the table. It will be a tough match tomorrow."

Connor Tacagni: "We have huge respect for Phil and James and what they have done for Meralco and the national team."

Ceres-Negros prevents Davao breakthrough

Davao hosting Ceres at Tagum earlier this week.

The Davao Aguilas have yet to win a football game as a club in the Philippines Football League, as they were held by Ceres-Negros FC to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday afternoon at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum City.

With the attention the team got after making the decision to name Marlon Maro as the interim head coach to replace their inaugural gaffer Gary Phillips, the Aguilas were hoping that such a change would lead to an improvement in fortune after losing six of their last eight matches.

Such changes saw immediate dividends, with James Younghusband scoring the opening goal of the match in the 27th minute, as a Phil Younghusband free kick found its way to Harry Sawyer inside the area, with the ball eventually finding James to poke in past the line, after getting a deflection off a Ceres defender.

The Busmen did have their scoring opportunities. Stephan Schroeck's chance in the tenth minute was deflected to the left of the post in the tenth minute, while Manny Ott's opportunity was saved by Marko Trkulja in the 36th minute. Ceres also had a couple of chances just before the first half ended, but the break came with the hosts taking a 1-0 lead.

The visitors continued to put pressure on the Davao defense to find an equalizer to start off the second half, with Schroeck's attempt from the right side being saved by Trkulja in the 48th minute. They eventually would break through in the 73rd minute, as Fernando Rodriguez finally puts Ceres on the board with a header from inside the area.

Each side had their chances to secure the winning goal, but Trkulja challenged Iain Ramsay's scoring opportunity in the 76th minute, while Jeffrey Christiaens and Omid Nazari could not convert on their chances. Meanwhile, Simone Rota's header off a free kick, was ruled offside in the 84th minute, an outcome that Maro was not thrilled with.

Meanwhile, in what was the surprising development of the day for the PFL, the other match scheduled for the day between Global Cebu FC and Stallion Laguna FC at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium was cancelled. Both teams, represented by Josef Malinay for the hosts and Ernie Nierras for the visitors, would then conduct a press conference to address this particular matter, mainly apologizing to the fans for the sudden cancellation.

As of this writing, the league has not yet addressed the statements made by both teams concerned publicly. Aside from its post on Facebook announcing said postponement, the PFL has yet to officially comment on this matter.

NOTES: Attendance at Tagum for this match was just under four thousand. Maro at the post-match press conference: "We indeed won. However, the referee nullified our second goal. It's his opinion. We respect it. To our fans, we are still on the right track for the remaining matches. Ceres has 29 points, but can easily overcome their twelve-point deficit to FC Meralco Manila with their five games in hand. Davao remains mired in seventh place with seven points.

Marlon Maro set to make PFL head coaching debut

With the team's continuing struggles in its inaugural season as a club, the Davao Aguilas have turned to a local face to lead the charge in changing their fortunes in the Philippines Football League.

Tasked to replace Gary Phillips on an interim coaching capacity is Marlon Maro, who was the head coach of the Philippines' Under-22 men's football team at the Southeast Asian Games. When asked about potential adjustments heading into their matchup against the Busmen, Maro noted that "there will be a lot of changes, but there is only one option, which is winning." He added that the team is in "high spirits" and is looking forward to snatching their first win this season.

The lone Mindanao side in the PFL has mustered only six points in fifteen matches, with losses in six of its last eight fixtures. In spite of this, Maro still believes that the team can still make a push for the postseason, highlighting that it still remains mathematically possible to be among the top four teams.

Meanwhile, Ceres-Negros is currently in fourth place with 28 points, but has at least six games in hand compared to the teams above and below it in the race for the postseason.


Streaming for the Davao vs Ceres matchup can be seen below.



Meanwhile, the other PFL matchup set to tip off at the same time is Global Cebu FC hosting Stallion Laguna FC at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

Global is currently in third place at 34 points, and with a game in hand against current second placers Kaya FC-Makati, are seeking to retake that plum position with a victory. Stallion is on the outside looking in at sixth place with 26 points, and a win on the road will bunch up the field further in the race for the postseason.

The hosts are seeking to avenge their 2-1 loss to the visitors in their last meeting on August 25, the final PFL match before the FIFA international break. They are also going to attempt to douse fire on Jhanjhan Melliza and his red-hot scoring streak for the Lakeside Squad.

Ceres-Negros kicks off PFL stretch drive against Davao

With its AFC Cup campaign over, Ceres-Negros turns its focus onto the quest for the inaugural Philippines Football League championship, kicking things off this afternoon at 4pm against Davao Aguilas FC.

Due to its continental campaign, the Busmen have played the fewest league matches of the season at just twelve games. In spite of this perceived disadvantage, they remain within striking distance of the Top 4, which would guarantee them a spot in the postseason.

In addressing the media on Friday, Ceres assistant Ian Treyes acknowledged that the grind that playing in both the AFC Cup and the RHB Singapore Cup has put into the squad, noting that "We have to make some adjustments for the upcoming games."

Davao isn't that far back, due to some of their players' involvement in the SEA Games, having played just fourteen matches, two of which came in the past week. However, the team is still looking for its first league win, struggling in seventh place with just six points.

Streaming link for the upcoming match can be viewed below.



NOTE: Match is scheduled to be played at Rizal Memorial due to the unavailability of the Davao del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum City. Tickets will be available at the venue.

FC Meralco Manila returns to PFL action on the road

Global defender Jerry Barbaso, (left), fights for the ball with Manila's Tyler Matas.

One of three Philippines Football League matches will take place at the Cebu City Sports Complex, with league leaders FC Meralco Manila visiting Global Cebu FC in a top-of-the-table clash at 4pm.

Due to the international break and schedule considerations, the Sparks had three-and-a-half weeks off before making their way to the Queen City of the South. At 40 points, they have a solid lead in the standings. Before the break, they drew 1-1 against JPV Marikina FC back in August 23, ending a four-match winning streak.

On the other hand, Global is fresh from their 3-1 victory against Davao Aguilas FC this past Wednesday. At 33 points, they are seven points behind the Sparks for the lead, but any points will allow the team to have a better standing in the race for the four-team postseason.

Global also happens to be the only team that FC Meralco Manila has yet to defeat this season, drawing them 2-2 in the first meeting back in July, then defeating them in their second meeting, 2-1, back in August. This is the first and only meeting that will take in place in Cebu, with both previous fixtures taking place at Rizal Memorial.

When asked about the match, Meralco head coach Aris Caslib says, "This in an important match for the players and the club," adding that "We have to manage their fast and good players up front as well as their quality defenders. This is an important stage in the league for our team. Everyone knows the September campaign is crucial and it starts with the game against Global Cebu. Everyone has to step up and focus."

When asked about facing his former teammate Sanchez for the first time, defender Joaco Cañas says that "It's gonna be entertaining and very different to play against him." Both players were teammates at CF International Madrid when they flew in to the country to play a friendly. Cañas adds, "We have never faced each other except in training. It will be nice to share a football field again with him even while defending different colors. But for sure it will get rough and we both will fight for the win as we have always done.

For those who want to partake of the match in Cebu, tickets cost PhP 20 for grandstand, PhP 100 for premium seats, and PhP 200 for the VIP. One can buy them at the Cebu FA office beside the CCSC. Those who can't go can watch this online. Streaming link for the upcoming match-up can be seen below



Here are some quotes from the pre-match press conference that took place on Friday.

Sparks assistant coach Jeff Liman: "Ang target namin is kung anung nasimulan, ipagpapatuloy. We know how they play, they know how we play. Ang importante is the execution of our tactics. In a sense Ang kalaban namin is any sarili namin. I hope we all step up."

Cebu native and FCM player Neil Dorimon: (Speaking mostly in Cebuano so this is translated). "I'm excited to play for the first time in Abellana field. I'm also proud to represent the kids from Cebu. My relatives and friends from Bantayan will come to watch. Ihatag ko Ang tanan para sa ila. (I will give my all for them.)"

Global coach Akbar Nawas: "This is our third game in seven days so recovery is of utmost importance. I don't think  the fixture list is ideal but it is what it is... We're not going into this game so they can run us down. What really gets us going is the crowd. Once the game kicks off we don't even think of playing three games in so short a time. The adrenalin kicks in and we feel fresh... Meralco are top of the table for a reason and we have to give them due respect, with or without the Younghusbands."

Global striker Darryl Roberts: "We need to stick to the game plan and we need the support of that 12th man. "

Liman on why Global is such a tough opponent: "Ang mga veterans nila pasok sa system ng coach. From the locals to the imports, Isang team talaga sila. They deserved to qualify for the AFC Cup... The message to our players is this: Oras na gumawa Ng sarili mong pangalan."

Global hosts Davao in midweek PFL showdown

The Philippines Football League has one midweek matchup to take note of, with Global Cebu FC set to host Davao Aguilas FC tonight at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Fresh from their 2-2 draw at Tagum City days earlier, both teams seek to have their fourth and final meeting against each other on a winning note. Both sides also desperate for a victory, with Davao still seeking their first win in the PFL, while Global has yet to taste victory in the last four league matches.

Gary Phillips believes that the new additions will help with the team's depth, acknowledging that they have plenty of matches still to be played, including the immediate stretch of seven matches in 22 days. Although they had six weeks off, due to the international break, and the break the league gave the team due to the number of players in the squad that had been called up for the SEA Games.

He adds that these additions will raise the standard for everyone, especially since we have a bunch of young players. The entire team is looking forward to the challenge, admitting that they still have a long way to go.

Having the opportunity to go to Malaysia for a camp enabled the team to get to know each other, Gary adds, also noting, "We needed to play games due to the fact that we had six weeks off." He also says that they still need to fine-tune their defense, especially with regards to set pieces.

On the other hand, Global head coach Akbar Nawas acknowledged that it takes time for a team develop a certain style of play, although he thought that their last meeting was a fair result.

Both coaches did highlight the fact the team that commits fewer mistakes will win this matchup.

Streaming link for the match can be seen below.



NOTE: The league announced that the kickoff has been moved from its original 4pm start time to 7pm, a move that was welcomed by all parties, including fans who wish to attend the games.

Philippines Football League resumes today

Phil Younghusband at one of the tune-up matches of Davao Aguilas FC in Malaysia recently (Photo by Mickey Sanchez)

After the international break, the Philippines Football League is set to resume play this weekend, with three matches on tap.

On Saturday, the Davao del Norte Sports Complex will be hosting the long-awaited debut of the Younghusband brothers with Davao Aguilas FC, as they host Global Cebu FC at 4pm. They are the crown jewels of Gary Phillips' retooling efforts, with both scoring in the Asian Cup Qualifier against Yemen earlier this week at the Pana-ad Park and Stadium in Bacolod.

While most teams had a long international break, the Aguilas have had a longer sabbatical from league play, as a result of having a bulk of players being called up for national team duty at the Southeast Asian Games. They last played back in July 29, losing 3-2 to league-leading FC Meralco Manila.

The lone Mindanao-based team in the PFL is still seeking their first win of the season, with losses in four of their last five matches. They used their break by having a camp in Malaysia, going up against various Malay clubs as they await their return to league play. This also kicks off a brutal stretch of matches for Davao, with five matches in a span of two weeks, with a home-and-home against Global Cebu, then a back-to-back against Ceres-Negros FC, and the much-anticipated first meeting of the Younghusbands against their former team on September 23.

On the other hand, Global Cebu FC is also in a slump of their own, without a league win in the last month, with the latest being a 2-1 loss to Stallion Laguna FC in Binan.

Meanwhile, there is a club football doubleheader at separate venues on Sunday.

At 4pm, Stallion Laguna FC seeks to extend their winning run to three straight matches by hosting league cellar-dwellers Ilocos United FC at the Binan Football Stadium, while JPV Marikina FC hosts Kaya FC at 7pm at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The latter two teams are involved in the latest league ruling, as they awarded Kaya a 3-0 forfeiture win over JPV in their May 27 fixture. As a result, Kaya now is in solo second place with 32 points in 19 matches.

Both teams are seeking a much-needed win, with JPV only having one since June 25, while Kaya has not yet secured a win since their five-match streak.

Meanwhile, FC Meralco Manila and Ceres-Negros FC will resume football activities later in the week, with the latter hosting an AFC Cup Inter-zonal semifinal against FC Istiklol on September 12 before traveling to Davao to face the Aguilas on the 16th, the same day FC Meralco Manila travels to Cebu to face Global.

Davao Aguilas reveal SEA Games call-ups

Davao Aguilas FC players, proud representatives of the Philippines at the upcoming SEA Games to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Davao Aguilas revealed on Saturday that seven of their players have been called up by the Philippine Football Federation for the upcoming SEA Games.

Composed of under-22 standouts, the seven Aguilas called up are as follows:

Junell Mark Bautista
Enzo Cheng
Raymart Cubon
Dylan De Bruycker
Van Rey Diaz
Jordan Jarvis
Richard Talaroc, Jr.

Davao head coach Gary Phillips praised this development, " Very exciting times for Davao Aguilas FC, we have 7 representatives, that's wonderful for our club. Obviously, we wish them all the best, we are confident that they will do well and represent Philippine football in a good way, and they are quality players, quality individuals. We are very excited for them and I'm sure they will do us proud."

The rest of the team will also be in Malaysia, but for a training camp that will get them ready once they resume their Philippines Football League campaign, which will be in September 9, as they host Global Cebu FC. Davao reloaded in the past few weeks, which included the transfer of the Younghusband brothers from FC Meralco Manila. The team will also support their teammates in national team duty.

Davao Aguilas FC officially complete Younghusband transfer

The official signing. In the middle is team chairman Jefferson Cheng

The transfer has now been made official on Thursday. Davao Aguilas Football Club has acquired the Younghusband brothers.

The contract signing formalizing the move was made on Wednesday night at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, with club executives led by team chairman Jefferson Cheng witnessing the ceremony.

Cheng remarked on the transfer, "We are happy to welcome Phil and James into our club. Both are quality players and fine gentlemen that will blend well into our club and represent Davao Aguilas with utmost professionalism.Our fans and supporters are equally excited about our new signings. I am sure they will contribute not only to Davao Aguilas, but also help us succeed in our vision to promote and advance Philippine football."

Phil will wear number 20 for the team, while James will wear 21.

In a statement, the Younghubands expressed their thanks to FC Meralco Manila for their support, while also expressing excitement in joining Davao Aguilas FC.

Official statement from the Younghusbands, as passed to me from @catnazareno. Official transfer was made Wednesday… https://t.co/pZZ9HWwl3d pic.twitter.com/vRYT6sX5cX

— PHSports LiveScores (@LiveScoresPH) August 3, 2017

FC Meralco Manila was the first to release a statement, doing so through their Facebook page.

The Younghusbands are the latest in the numerous moves that the lone Philippines Football League team representing Mindanao has made during the transfer window, which includes the likes of Simone Rota, Jason de Jong, and Matthew Hartmann. The trio have already seen action for the Aguilas in the PFL.

James 21, Phil 20

As for Phil and James, they will make their team debut on September 9 against Global Cebu FC in Tagum City. But before that, they are expected to be called up for national team duty, as the Philippines will host Yemen in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on September 5 at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod.

FC Meralco Manila bids Younghusbands farewell with road win

In their final game with the squad, the Younghusband brothers made sure it was a winning one, securing a come-from-behind 3-2 victory for FC Meralco Manila over Davao Aguilas FC in the lone Philippines Football League matchup scheduled this past Saturday at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum City.

Milan Nikolic scored twice for the Sparks, with his second goal turning out to be the game-winner for the visitors in the 66th minute. FC Meralco Manila had tied the game a couple of minutes earlier c/o James Younghusband off an assist from brother Phil.

Both teams came into the match without a key central defender, with Joaco Cañas for the Sparks and Milos Krstic for the Aguilas both suspended.

The returning Ace Villanueva was tested early, repulsing a strike from recent Davao signing Jason de Jong. But the hosts eventually scored first, thank to their recent signing Harrison Sawyer in the 33rd minute, taking advantage of a defensive lapse.

Nikolic equalized for the Sparks in the 41st minute, nodding in a corner from Phil, but the Aguilas quickly responded to restore the lead, thanks to Matthew Hartmann.

The second half provided an early opportunity for FC Meralco Manila to equalize, but Marko Trkulja deftly denies a Phil free kick three minutes in. Seven minutes later, James had a chance, but was unable to convert.

Eventually, the Sparks found the tying goal, when Phil beat the defense on the right flank, and then centered to James, who then slipped it past Trkulja. Curt Dizon then found Nikolic on a cross to give the lead.

Post-match, head coach Aris Caslib praised Daniel Gadia's performance, noting that he "came in and pushed Phil and James upfield. That was our main adjustment in the second half."

Nikolic appreciated the crowd in Tagum and thanks the Younghusbands for all that they have done for the club. He added, "It was an emotional match."

James told the team after the game, "You all are like brothers to me."

With the victory, the Sparks temporarily take hold of first place in the PFL with 27 points, with ertswhile leaders Kaya FC set to face Stallion Laguna FC later this afternoon. The loss pegs the Aguilas in seventh place at five points.

New-look Aguilas set to host Sparks on PFL Saturday

FC Meralco Manila striker Phil Younghusband with Davao midfielder Nate Burkey.

The Davao del Norte Sports Complex will be hosting FC Meralco Manila as they aspire to retake the lead in Philippines Football League against home side Davao Aguilas FC this weekend.

The last time both teams faced off down south, The Sparks' undefeated season took a dent, as the Aguilas forced a 2-2 draw. Since then, the Sparks have had a mixed form, winning just two of its last five matches and got battered by Ceres-Negros, 7-0. As for the Mindanao-based side, they still have not yet logged a single win this season, losing three of its last four completed matches.

Matthew Hartmann

In addition, Davao has decided to upgrade its roster, taking full advantage of the PFL's transfer window. Matthew Hartmann and Harry Sawyer made their debut against Ceres-Negros at Panaad Stadium last week, with Nick O'Donnell on the substitutes' bench. They have also entered into agreements with ertswhile Ceres players Jason de Jong, Jorrel Aristorenas, and Simone Rota, while also snapping up Reymart Cubon from Kaya FC's B-team, although it remains to be seen if all four will be cleared to play in time for the match. It also looks like Gilmar has departed from the club, considering this tweet below.

Gracias @davaoaguilasfc 🔴🔵🦅 pic.twitter.com/qCIQeaBuwF

— Gilmàrio (@GilmarDiSilva) July 27, 2017

Aris Caslib's defense will be affected by the absence of Joaco Cañas, who will be observing a one-match suspension due to accumulated yellow cards. The Sparks will also kick off a stretch of three games in eight days, with matches against Global-Cebu FC and Kaya FC at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in the horizon.

Both teams will have the benefit of having key players return from the Philippines' U-23 team that took part in the AFC U-23 Qualifiers. Daniel Gadia and Ace Villanueva return to action for FC Meralco Manila, while Dylan De Bruycker, Jordan Jarvis, and Junjun Talaroc comprise the key cogs coming back for the Aguilas, along with Cubon.

Tickets for the match will be available at the gate. Kickoff is slated at 4pm.