Copa Paulino Alcantara

The Copa Paulino Alcantara,[1] also known as the PFL Cup, is an annual professional football tournament in Philippines organized by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). It is contested by the clubs of the Philippines Football League (PFL) along with invited guest clubs and usually takes place after the PFL season. Participating clubs play in a round-robin group stage followed by a knockout phase and concluded by a final. Winners qualify for the following season's AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs preliminary round; failure to advance to the AFC Champions League group stage transfers them to the AFC Cup.

Copa Paulino Alcantara
Organising bodyPhilippine Football Federation
FoundedMarch 2018 (2018-03)
RegionPhilippines
Number of teams16 (2023)
Qualifier forAFC Champions League
AFC Cup
Current championsUnited City (2nd title)
Most successful club(s)Kaya–Iloilo
United City (2 titles each)
Television broadcastersPFL (Facebook and YouTube live stream)
2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara

The cup's first edition was held in 2018. It was established as the country's domestic cup and is named after Paulino Alcántara, a Filipino-Spanish footballer who notably played in the 1910s–20s for FC Barcelona as well as the Philippines and Spain national teams.

The most successful clubs are Kaya–Iloilo and United City with two titles each. The latter are the current champions, having defeated the former in the 2022 final. Meanwhile, Kaya–Iloilo have appeared in every final since the cup's inaugural edition.

History

Background and planning

Following the Philippines national team's best record so far in the 2010 AFF Championship, football in the Philippines experienced a renaissance. However, the country had no true national league nor a cup competition (the national cup competition was last held in 2007, to celebrate the Philippine Football Federation's centennial[2]). To help address this issue, Smart Communications in January 2011, approached the PFF with an offer to finance a new local football competition. The proposed partnership was set to last 10 years, with Smart releasing ₱80 million in funds with the aim of providing more playing opportunities for skilled football players, and the eventual creation of a national league.[3][2] Newly installed PFF president Mariano Araneta subsequently approved the proposal. In March 2011, the new tournament commenced under the name PFF–Smart National Men's Club Championship.[2] However, the competition only lasted for four years, with the last edition being held in 2014–15.

After the PFF announced the creation of a new national league, the federation confirmed that a new domestic cup competition was also to be formed.[4] The proposed competition was tentatively named as the PFL Cup, but was ultimately changed into "Copa Paulino Alcantara" in March 2018, in commemoration of the FC Barcelona legend Paulino Alcántara who also represented the Philippines national team.[1] It was planned that the cup will be held simultaneously with the Philippines Football League (PFL) regular season. However, in the PFL's inaugural season in 2017, the cup was not played. Instead, a playoff for the top teams of the regular season, called the Finals Series, was held in its place. Ceres–Negros won the only edition of the Finals Series.

2018 inaugural edition

During the 2018 PFL season, the league announced in February that the cup competition will proceed, but instead of taking place in the middle of the regular season, it was set to be held after it.[5]

On July 15, 2018 during the PFL Fans Day, it was announced that non-franchise clubs were eligible to join the Copa Paulino Alcantara, provided they satisfy the licensing requirements.[6] However, no non-PFL club joined the inaugural edition. The first Copa Paulino Alcantara was held on September and October 2018. The six PFL clubs were divided into two groups that played each other in a double round-robin format. The top two teams from each group faced off in the single-elimination semi-finals, followed by the final. The winners then qualify for the following year's AFC Cup.[7]

The first Copa Paulino Alcantara match took place on September 1, 2018 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Kaya–Iloilo defeated Global Cebu 4–0, wherein Robert Lopez Mendy scored the tournament's first-ever goal and hat-trick.[8] In the final on October 27, Kaya–Iloilo defeated Davao Aguilas 1–0 in extra time through a last-minute goal by Jovin Bedic.[9]

2019–present

In 2019, when the Philippine Premier League was launched to supplant the PFL, it was announced that the Copa Paulino Alcantara would be retained.[10] However, the PPL was short-lived and PFL was relaunched within the year.[11] The 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara featured the first guest team, Philippines U22, who were preparing for the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games.[12] The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[13][14] while the 2021 edition was held in a bio-secure bubble at the PFF National Training Center.[15] It was also the first edition to feature the third place playoff.[16] In the 2022 edition, instead of being divided into groups, all participating clubs played a single-round robin elimination round wherein the top four clubs advanced to the semi-finals.[17]

The 2023 edition features 17 teams (5 from the PFL and 12 guests)—the most to date in the competition's history. It is also the first to feature more than two groups in the group stage, and the first to hold quarter-finals.[18]

Branding

The Copa Paulino Alcantara logo was chosen from a design competition organized by Liga Futbol Inc. in May 2018.[19] On July 27, 2018, the winning logo was announced as the one designed by Joel Alejo, which was chosen from more than 150 entries.[20][21]

Format

Clubs from the Philippines Football League (PFL), along with invited guest clubs, are qualified for the Copa Paulino Alcantara. The format consists of a round-robin group stage followed by a knockout phase leading to the final.

As of the 2023 edition, the tournament begins with a group stage wherein clubs are drawn into three groups with five or six clubs each. The group stage consists of a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each group along with the two best third-placed teams advance to the quarter-finals.[18] The semi-finals are played in a two-legged format; the losing semi-finalists play the third-place match, while the winning semi-finalists face-off in the final.

The Copa Paulino Alcantara has always consisted of a round-robin phase followed by a knockout phase. The number of teams participating has varied over the years causing minor adjustments in the tournament format. Most of the group stages held featured two groups, with the top two teams of each group advancing to the semi-finals. The 2022 edition is the only one to date that did not distribute teams into groups; instead they all played each other in a single round-robin format with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.[17] The inaugural edition was the only one to feature a double round-robin group stage;[7] all subsequent editions used a single round-robin format in the group stage. The third place play-off was introduced in 2021,[16] while the two-legged semi-finals was introduced in 2023, and will also be the first to feature a quarter-finals.

Schedule

The Copa Paulino Alcantara is usually held after its respective PFL season. The first three editions were held within the months of September, October, and November.[7][22][23] Following the PFL's adoption of an inter-year calendar in 2022–23 to coincide with international competitions,[24] the Copa Paulino Alcantara's schedule was adjusted: the fourth edition was held in March to May 2022 while the fifth edition started in July 2023.

Qualification for Asian competitions

From its launch in 2018 until 2020, the winners of the Copa Paulino Alcantara qualified for the following season's AFC Cup group stage.[25] From 2021 onwards, Copa Paulino Alcantara winners qualify for the preliminary round of following season's AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs. If they qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage, they have to renounce to their berth in the AFC Cup. Conversely, failure to qualify for the former tournament transfers them to the AFC Cup group stage.[26]

Results
Keys
Ed. Year Final Third-place play-off No. of
teams
Champion Score Runner-up Third Score Fourth
1 2018 Kaya–Iloilo 1–0 (a.e.t.)
Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila		 Davao Aguilas Not yet introduced 6
2 2019 Ceres–Negros^ 2–1
Biñan Football Stadium, Biñan		 Kaya–Iloilo 7
– 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
3 2021 Kaya–Iloilo 1–0
PFF National Training Center, Carmona		 Azkals Development Team Stallion Laguna 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
PFF National Training Center, Carmona		 Dynamic Herb Cebu 5
4 2022 United City 3–2
PFF National Training Center, Carmona		 Kaya–Iloilo Stallion Laguna 2–1
PFF National Training Center, Carmona		 Dynamic Herb Cebu 7
5 2023 TBD 17

^ = United City were known as Ceres–Negros until 2020

Performance by club
Club
Winners
Runners-up
Winning Years
Kaya–Iloilo
2
2
 2018, 2021
United City
2
0
 2019, 2022
Davao Aguilas
0
1
 –
ADT
0
1
 –

Awards

Starting from the second edition (2019) the Copa Paulino Alcantara introduced the following post-tournament awards: the Golden Ball for best player, the Golden Boot for top goalscorer, and the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper.

Note: Flags indicate nationality as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Year Golden Ball Golden Boot Goals Golden Glove
2019 Japan Takashi Odawara
Ceres–Negros		 Senegal Robert Lopez Mendy
Ceres–Negros		 5 Philippines Roland Müller
Ceres–Negros
2021 Philippines Jovin Bedic
Kaya–Iloilo		 Philippines Jarvey Gayoso
Azkals Development Team		 6 Philippines Louie Casas
Kaya–Iloilo
2022 Philippines Mike Ott
United City		 Japan Daizo Horikoshi
Kaya–Iloilo		 6 Philippines Anthony Pinthus
United City

Media coverage

The Copa Paulino Alcantara has been livestreamed on Facebook, from the first matches of the 2018 edition.[27] In addition, the inaugural final was broadcast live by ESPN5 on AksyonTV, as well as on YouTube. In the 2021 edition, One Sports covered the whole tournament.

See also

References
  1. "LFI Board of Directors Convenes for Fourth Meeting". Philippines Football League. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  2. Olivares, Rick (March 1, 2011). "National open football tilt back after five-year hiatus". BusinessMirror. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2011. "This revives a national tournament that we have not had in a while," Philippine Football Federation (PFF) competitions department head Cyril Dofitas told the BusinessMirror. Bacolod City hosted the last national tournament five years ago.
  3. "PFF, Smart to form Philippine football league". GMA News and Public Affairs. January 31, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011. A league for Philippine football? This will become a reality as the Philippine Football Federation has forged a partnership with telecom giant Smart Communications to finance a local football club championship. The partnership will last for a span of 10 years, with the giant telco releasing a total of P80 million for the project aimed at providing opportunities for skilled football players.
  4. Bautista, Roehl Niño (December 2, 2013). "Philippine Football Federation set to launch national league". GMA News. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  5. "PFL Season begins March 3". Philippines Football League. February 8, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  6. Dela Cruz, Jaimer (15 July 2018). "First PFL Fans Day and Soca Loca Mobile App Launch a success". Fox Sports Asia. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  7. "Villaflor: And the Copa begins". SunStar. August 30, 2018. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  8. "Kaya blanks Global in PFL-Alcantara opener". Panay News. September 3, 2018. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  9. Leyba, Olmin (October 29, 2018). "Kaya FC snares Copa Paulino Alcantara". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on December 13, 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  10. "Philippine Premier League launched as country's new top-tier club competition". ESPN5. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  11. Del Carmen, Lorenzo (May 4, 2019). "PFF sinks PPL, promises to revive PFL". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  12. Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (November 18, 2019). "PFL commish elated by success of SEAG football test event". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  13. Cabanlong, Xy-Zha (May 27, 2020). "PFF prexy Nonong Araneta hopeful on football's return in PH". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  14. Terrado, Reuben (27 March 2021). "Copa Paulino Alcantara canceled as PFL looks to open new season in July". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  15. Del Carmen, Lorenzo (January 16, 2021). "2021 PFL Bubble Season to begin with Copa Alcantara". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  16. Terrado, Reuben (October 27, 2021). "PFF holds Copa Paulino Alcantara in lieu of PFL 2021 season". SPIN.ph: Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  17. Yumol, David Tristan (February 26, 2022). "Copa Paulino Alcantara 2022 kicks off on March 14". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  18. Verzosa, Pauline (July 14, 2023). "17 teams to compete in rejigged Copa Paulino Alcantara". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  19. "Copa Paulino Alcantara Logo Design Contest". Philippines Football League. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  20. "Philippines' cup competition: Copa Paulino Alcantara logo unveiled". Fox Sports. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  21. "Copa Paulino Alcantara Logo Design Contest Winner Announced". Philippines Football League. Liga Futbol, Inc. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  22. Cabanlong, Xy-Zha (October 20, 2019). "Azkals U22 team, 6 others to compete in Copa Paulino Alcantara '19". Dugout Philippines. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  23. Pedralvez, Manolo (October 25, 2021). "PFL Cup sees 6 teams participating; kickoff on Nov. 7". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  24. "Philippines Football League Season 2022-2023 kicks off". pfl.org.ph. Philippines Football League. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  25. Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (April 3, 2018). "PFL Cup to be named Copa Paulino Alcantara". Philippine Canadian Inquirer. Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  26. "United City, Kaya make their return in AFC competitions". pfl.org.ph. Philippines Football League. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  27. "Copa Paulino Alcantara successfully holds first ever Facebook livestream". Fox Sports Asia. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
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