SANTA. ROSA, Laguna — The Philippine Football League (PFL) will make a comeback on March 3, nearly two months earlier than the opening of the previous season.
Following a meeting at the PFF office in Pasig, where the league office is also located, the PFL board agreed that the second season of the home-and-away professional football league will start on the said date.
Following the dissolution of Meralco Manila and the decision of Ilocos United to take a leave of absence for this year, the remaining six charter member clubs of the league, JPV Marikina, Kaya Makati, Stallion Laguna, defending champion Ceres Negros, Global Cebu, and Davao Aguilas, will play this season.
The PFL season will remain a quadruple round robin format divided into two rounds of home and road games with a two-legged semifinals and a one-game final.
The pairings for the first round of the playoffs, also known as the Finals Series, will be determined through a draw, going away from the crossover format.
The league champion will clinch a spot in next year’s AFC Champions League Qualifiers.
Also to be introduced in the new season is the PFL Cup, which will run from September until October.
The winner of the new tournament will enter the AFC Cup outright.