THE PFF Women’s League will start its 2025 season on March 22 at the Mall of Asia Football Field.
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Six teams will see action in the competition led by reigning league champion Kaya FC-Iloilo and PFF Women’s Cup titlist Stallion Laguna FC.
Also participating for this season are newly-formed club team Capital1 Solar Strikers, Ang Liga Under-19 champions Makati FC, and UAAP squads University of Santo Tomas and the University of the Philippines.
PFF Women’s League commissioner Miguel Gutierrez said the tournament will have a double-round robin format which will ultimately see the team with the most points taking the crown.
Filipinas players Hali Long of Kaya FC-Iloilo and Chandler and Olivia McDaniel of Stallion Laguna FC attended Friday’s preseason press conference where they indicated their excitement for the coming tournament that features a mix of veteran and young players.
“It’s a long-awaited league,” said Long during the event held at the Studio 300, Makati City. “It’s nice that we have new teams in the league and a new pitch. One of the things I’m most excited for is actually the UAAP teams because pre-pandemic, the league had all the college teams and it was kind of like their preseason."
"It’s a good mix. It’s nice to see the up-and-coming youth and how they slowly transition into club (football) after their college career.”
Olivia McDaniel, for her part, concurred that the league is a great opportunity for newly-established clubs and college teams to gain experience.
“Playing more games and being able to have that experience going into the national team is definitely the most important,” she added. “And I think the more games that we start to play, especially with the younger girls and the UAAP girls, it’s just going to help in the long run."
Kaya FC, Stallion go for another crown
Kaya FC-Iloilo will be eyeing its second Women’s League crown following its conquest in 2023, but sees an uphill climb to achieve that, with Stallion coming off the Women’s Cup title last year.
“We lost the last competition so I don’t know that you can call us the best,” said Kaya FC-Iloilo general manager Paul Tolentino, whose squad also underwent a coaching change by bringing in David Basa after its previous mentor Let Dimzon moved to Capital1.
“We were lucky to be able to work with the best female coach in the country for the previous five years in coach Let. It’s a big responsibility to be able to replace coach Let. What she added to the club for the five years that she was with us is something that we cannot replicate and thank her enough for it,” said Tolentino.
As to their title hopes after winning the cup last year, Chandler McDaniel said Stallion still needs to earn this league crown.
“We are coming off a win this season and so, we are excited to start a new one. Obviously, it’s not going to be easy with all the teams coming in and all the new ones. We still have to work just as hard as last season,” said McDaniel.
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