JPV finally plays on Marikina home pitch, hosts Global; Davao opens season bid vs Kaya

After a cloud of uncertainty following the pullout of two clubs early this year, the second season of the Philippines Football League finally takes off on Saturday when JPV Marikina makes its home debut against Global Cebu at Marikina Sports Center.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. with JPV hoping for a positive start to its league campaign after limping to a disappointing fifth place finish last season.

Davao Aguilas host Kaya Iloilo at Davao del Norte Sports Complex at 4 p.m. on Sunday, capping opening weekend for the league which will be reduced to six teams this season following the pullout of Ilocos United and Meralco Manila.

Ceres-Negros and Stallion Laguna were supposed to play at Panaad Stadium on Saturday, but the league decided to move the match to June.

The six clubs will play against each other five times in the league competition to comply with the minimum number of games set by the AFC.

A Cup competition will be introduced this year, which will be held in the middle of the year.

It will mark the first time that JPV is actually playing at MSC, whose pitch underwent repair last year to comply with league standards.

“We’re excited to finally play a match on our home pitch,” said JPV coach Dan Padernal. “We want to promote football in Marikina and hopefully we can do that through good performances in the PFL.”

Padernal lost some of his key cogs from last season like Takumi Uesato and Takashi Odawara, who moved to Ceres and Davao, respectively.