2018 Philippines Football League


The 2018 Philippines Football League was the second season of the Philippines Football League, the professional football league of the Philippines. The season started on 3 March and concluded on 25 August. The league was contested by six teams from last season's eight, after Meralco Manila and Ilocos United withdrew before the season began. The postseason playoffs were discontinued due to the introduction of the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the domestic cup tournament which was held after the league season. Thus, the PFL became a pure quintuple round-robin tournament where each club played the others five times—each club playing 25 games.
Ceres–Negros won their second consecutive league title on 25 July with three matches to spare.
Due to several issues with the league—such as the expensive home-and-away format as well as the lack of sponsors and TV coverage—the PFL was abolished after the 2018 season and was replaced by the Philippine Premier League. However, the Philippine Premier League also had numerous issues and was folded after only a single match day; The PFL was then renewed for a third season in 2019.

Teams

The eight clubs which participated in the inaugural season were granted license to partake in the 2018 season by November 2017. However, on 8 January 2018, FC Meralco Manila ceased operations in the senior club level and on 18 January Ilocos United F.C. announced their withdrawal from the league leaving only 6 teams for the 2018 season.

Stadiums and locations

On 6 February 2018, Kaya F.C. transferred from Makati to Iloilo.
;Alternate stadiums
The following are alternate home venues for Davao Aguilas, Global Cebu, and JPV Marikina as approved by Liga Futbol, Inc.
Home venues of PFL clubs

Coaching changes

Foreign players

A maximum of four foreigners are allowed per club which follows the Asian Football Confederation's '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.

Positions by round

Results by round

Results

The six clubs will play each other in two rounds of home and away matches. The final round hosting will be via drawing of lots. 75 league matches will be played in total.

First round

Second round

Final round

Season statistics

Scoring

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Robert Lopez MendyKaya–Iloilo18
2 Bienvenido MarañónCeres–Negros15
3 Phil YounghusbandDavao Aguilas12
4 Keigo MoriyasuJPV Marikina11
4 James YounghusbandDavao Aguilas11

Hat-tricks

PlayerClubResultAgainstDateRef
Jordan MintahKaya–Iloilo4–1 JPV Marikina5 May 2018
Robert Lopez MendyKaya–Iloilo4–2 Davao Aguilas20 May 2018
Robert Lopez MendyKaya–Iloilo4–2 JPV Marikina27 June 2018
Jovin BedicKaya–Iloilo4–2 Stallion Laguna4 July 2018
Bienvenido MarañónCeres–Negros6–1 Global Cebu25 July 2018
Keigo MoriyasuJPV Marikina11–1 Global Cebu1 August 2018
Jay BaguioroJPV Marikina11–1 Global Cebu1 August 2018

;Note
– Home ; – Away

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets
1 Toni DoblasCeres–Negros4
2 Nick O'DonnellDavao Aguilas3
3 Ref CuaresmaKaya–Iloilo1
3 Nathanael VillanuevaKaya–Iloilo1
3 Hayeson PepitoStallion Laguna1
3 Patrick DeytoDavao Aguilas1

Discipline

Yellow cards

Red cards

RankPlayerClubRed Cards
1 Alfred OseiKaya–Iloilo2
1 Omid NazariCeres–Negros2
1 Robert Lopez MendyKaya–Iloilo2
4 Rufo SanchezGlobal Cebu1
4 Dennis VillanuevaDavao Aguilas1
4 Adam ReedDavao Aguilas1
4 Jason CordovaStallion Laguna1
4 Camelo TacusalmeKaya–Iloilo1
4 Robert CañedoJPV Marikina1
4 Shirman FelongcoKaya–Iloilo1
4 Angelo MarasiganGlobal Cebu1
4 OJ PorteriaCeres–Negros1
4 Louie CasasCeres–Negros1
4 Mike OttCeres–Negros1
4--1