PFF Smart National Club Championship in Iloilo

ILOILO will host the PFF Smart Club Championship-Group B on August 9-13, to be played at the Barotac Nuevo Football Field and Central Philippine University.

Pachanga FC of the National Capital Region, Columbia FC of Davao, Bagiuo United FC of Bagiuo City and Stallion FC of Iloilo will play for the top 2 teams that will qualify for the semi-final slots that will play against the other top 2 teams from Group A, which will be played in Cagayan de Oro City.

Stallion FC managed by lawyer Eduardo P. Robles Jr. is composed of players from Barotac Nuevo and Santa Barbara, augmented by Korean players studying at Central Philippine University who topped the elimination round in the Visayas qualifiers earlier played in Iloilo City.

Stallion FC trained by Korean coach Dr. Pe of Cental Philippine University will be bannered by former National players Ruben Doctora Jr., Jason Cordova, Jezurel Tonog and Under-23 National Stand-Out Francis Gustilo.

The opening ceremonies will be at 1 p.m. of August 9 at the Barotac Nuevo Football Field, to be attended by Mayor Hernan D. Biron Sr. of Barotac Nuevo, Philippine Football Federation president Mariano "Nonong" Araneta and Iloilo Football Association president Roceller Sumbillo. It will be followed by the opening game at 1:30 p.m.

In a related development, a Referee's Refresher Course will be conducted at the Football Training Center in Barotac Nuevo for the officials who will officiate on the PFF Smart Club Championship in Iloilo. It will be conducted by PFF instructor Dennis Estaniel and Jaime Nicolao III on August 6-7. (PR)