Azkals vs Azkals: Smart Club football opens Aug. 9

Photo from Smart San Beda FC Facebook

MANILA—Members of he Philippine Azkals find themselves on opposing sides again when the group stage of the Smart Club Championships kicks off on Aug. 9 in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo.

Brothers Phil and James Younghusband suit up for Smart San Beda that will represent Rizal province, even as Chieffy Caligdong, Misagh Bahadoran and Ian Araneta banner Teknika, which qualified as a second team from NCR.

Rizal, which is handled by former national coach Aris Caslib, will see action in Group A at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Memorial Stadium in Cagayan de Oro, along with Iligan City, Laos FC of Leyte and Teknika, which also boasts Sudanese striker Izo El-Habbib.

Iloilo, represented by Stallions FC and reinforced by Korean standouts of Central Philippine University, plays host to Baguio-Benguet, Davao and another NCR representative, Pechanga FC.

The top two teams from both groups after single-round play will advance to the crossover semifinals scheduled Aug. 16 and 17 at the University of Makati Stadium, with the Group A topnotcher facing the Group B runner-up. The Group A first placer takes on the runner-up in Group B.

The two finalists will dispute the championship in a home-and-away series on Aug. 20 and Aug. 23, said PFF competitions chair Cyril Dofitas.

“This tournament is part of our continuing commitment to football and the Philippine Football Federation,” said Epok Quimpo of Smart Sports in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch in Manila.

PFF competitions head Cyril Dofitas, who was also at the forum sponsored by Accel, Pagcor, Smart, Outlast Battery and Shakey’s, pointed out that the sponsorship of the PFF-Smart Club Championships is part of the P80 million that Smart chief and business tycoon Manny Panglilinan invested for the long-term development of the sport.