Game Today
(Panaad Stadium, Bacolod City)
6 p.m. – Global vs Ceres
Ceres-Negros and Global-Cebu will add another chapter to their rivalry tonight when they face off for the right to become the inaugural champion of the Philippines Football League at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
Kickoff is set at 6 p.m. with Ceres enjoying the home-field advantage after confusion marred the selection of the venue for the one-game final to cap off eight months of big league football composed of eight clubs from various cities around the country.
The league awarded the hosting of the final to Bacolod City after denying Global’s request to have it staged at the Cebu City Sports Center based on the rule that gives the winner of the first semifinal fixture.
The winner not only gets to lift the trophy, but also secure a slot in the qualifying rounds of the AFC Champions League where the champion faces some of Asia’s premier clubs. Both finalists have already clinched berths to the AFC Cup.
It will be the third time that they’ll meet in the final of a major football competition, with Ceres claiming victory in the 2014 UFL League Cup and Global exacting revenge in last year’s UFL Cup.