Local clubs have new ways to enter AFC

Philippine clubs will now figure out new ways to return to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competitions under a new format after their continental campaigns ended this week in defeat.

Newly-minted Copa Paulino Alcantara champion Kaya-Iloilo wrapped up its stint in the AFC Champions League on a losing note, so did Stallion-Laguna and Dynamic Herb Cebu in the AFC Cup, completing a year that saw all three teams produce a combined one win and two draws against Asian counterparts.

This season’s competitions are the last before a new format is introduced for the 2024/25 season, with the Champions League split into two as the AFC Cup is dissolved in exchange for a new version.

The AFC will have a Champions League Elite, which features the top-tier Asian clubs and a Champions League 2 composed of second-tier participants.

A third competition is the AFC Challenge League to be participated in by clubs that didn’t make the grade for the two Champions League tourneys.

Just one slot

Unofficial rankings and Wikipedia posts see the Philippines having one slot available for a playoff round in the Champions League 2.

It’s Copa’s triumph in the final over Davao Aguilas-University of Makati last weekend that assured Kaya of nomination for next season’s AFC competitions.

The Philippines Football League season, which starts in February, also has an AFC slot as a reward for the champion, provided that clubs have a license that allows them to be eligible for nomination.

Kaya fell, 3-1, to South Korea’s Incheon United at Rizal Memorial Stadium, ending the Champions League by losing all six group stage matches.

Stallion lost, 3-0, to Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in Biñan, Laguna, to finish with only a point in the group stage.

Cebu also dropped its final AFC Cup match, going down, 3-0, to Australia’s Macarthur FC at Rizal Memorial.