After surveying a large group of Filipino soccer fans on Facebook, which team came out on top as the country’s most-liked?
I did a survey of Philippines Football League Fans United, a fast-growing and active football group on Facebook.
My goal was to see which football clubs are fan favorites. Here’s what I found.
Ilocos United FC
The Ilocos United Football Club based in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, has yet to establish itself in the Philippine football scene. The club’s home pitch is at the Quirino Stadium in Bantay, and it is managed by Filipino-Australian promoter Jarred Kelly and English businessman Tony Lazaro.
Davao Aguilas FC
The Filipino professional football club based in the city of Tagum, Davao del Norte, may not be the biggest club in the Philippines, but is one of the fastest growing football brands. It is a club that has already seen its stadium packed with fans during home games, and thanks too their recent sponsorship deal with San Miquel beer, they will only get bigger.
Stallion Laguna FC
This is the team that plays with heart. Stallion is a club that has little financial support, and really no real Philippine superstars after their transfer of Simon Rota to Ceres-Negros FC. Despite playing with mostly young, promising players, Stallion can still compete with top opponents. It is the best prospect in Manila for young Filipino players looking for first-team opportunities. However, Stallion has one of the smallest fan bases among the Filipino league.
JP Voltes Marikina FC
Courtesy football.com
When people ask “Which team plays the most beautiful football in the PFL,” JP Voltes is the most obvious answer. With their quick short and one touch passes, they are simply one of the best. Their unique and precise play style is one of the main reasons they are currently sitting at the top of the PFL table, even though they are not one of the biggest clubs in the Philippines.
Kaya Makati FC
One of the most established football clubs in the Philippines, Kaya Makati stands as having one of the best academy programs in the country. What is left to figure out is how Kaya will transfer their wealth of players from the Academy into the first team. Their U17 boys are on a 5 year unbeaten streak– in all competitions. Despite not being a fan favorite club, Kaya has the potential to really blow up this season.
Meralco Manila FC
This Meralco team that is own by a Filipino millionaire Manuel V. Pangilinan is known to possess real quality in the PFL. The Manila club had their first major success in 2013 when they won the United Football League Cup. Since then, they only managed to clinch PFF National Men’s Club Championship once. Meralco is for sure a top club in the Philippines, but was STILL not picked as the fan favorite club.
Global Cebu FC
Global Cebu FC is the football club with a rich history. Football is about being successful and winning the most trophies–and Global is the number one in modern Philippine football history. Because of this. it is so unfortunate that fans did not pick it as their favorite club in the country.
Ceres-Negros FC
Well, last but not least is Ceres-Negros FC, which was voted as the most liked club in the PFL.
When you Look at Ceres performance in the AFC and PFL–their fan base, titles, stadium, financial power and the rise in their academy program–you know why they are the fans favorite.
Courtesy business world
Since it was founded in 2011, Ceres has been on a constant rise, winning 5 titles. In the 2012-2013 season, they became the PFF National Club Championship winners, and repeated in the 2013-2014 season.
In 2014, they emerged as the United Football League FA Cup winners, and in the same year they won United Football League Division II, gaining promotion to the first division. Following their promotion to the first division, they dominated the top league and became the champions in 2015.
Ceres is a team to admire. They can literally buy most top stars that are willing to come to the Philippines. They have the best players on a great team, as well as a great stadium, with great supporters.
Alone they are strong, but with their money and fans, they are unstoppable.
