College, military teams join Copa
For the first time ever, Copa Paulino Alcantara will welcome the inclusion of collegiate and military squads when it unwraps its new season on 15 July.
Philippine Football League commissioner Coco Torre said they have already decided to invite collegiate and military teams in a bid to further push the level of the country’s national football program.
“The upcoming Copa is the firstever expanded edition. We committed 16 teams to join but despite that, we already have 20 teams in the lineup,” Torre said.
“This is a testament to club football. This is also a good platform since the amateur clubs are also here along with the collegiate teams and the Armed Forces.”
Defending champion Stallion Laguna FC banners the prestigious tourney along with Kaya, Cebu FC, Maharlika Manila FC, Mendiola 1991 FC and the Azkals Development Team, which earlier pulled out for the remainder of the 2022-2023 Philippines Football League season.
The Philippine Army and the Philippine Air Force, where former Azkals player Chieffy Caligdong played from 2004 to 2012, will be joining the competition.
University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 champion Far Eastern University, meanwhile, leads the five collegiate squads joining the competition together with Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, University of the East and De La Salle University.
Cagayan de Oro Rapids, Dasmariñas, Garelli United, Manila Digger, Pilipinas Dragons, Tuloy, and Davao Aguilas, the 2018 Copa Paulino Alcantara silver medalist, round out the list of guest teams in this year’s competition.