Philippine Army F.C.

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Philippine Army
Full namePhilippine Army Football Club
Nickname(s)The Troopers
Short namePAFC
Founded1960; 64 years ago (1960)
OwnerPhilippine Army
PresidentMaj. CJ Paolo P. Pérez
Head coachNestorio Margarse Jr.
LeaguePhilippines Football League
2024TBD

Philippine Army Football Club is a professional football club based in the Philippines. It was founded in 1960 through the effort of the Philippine Army Special Services Unit, that promotes sports and physical fitness within the Army, under the direction of the commanding General. As the club name indicates, the team is composed of members of the Philippine Army. The club currently plays in the Philippines Football League, the top-flight league of football in the Philippines.

History[edit]

In 2003, the club participated in the inaugural edition of ASEAN Club Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia, where they finished the tournament with 2 losses playing against Indian club, Kingfisher East Bengal and Thailand club, BEC Tero Sasana.[1]

Billy Estrella
Wilson De la Cruz
Richmond Braga
Nolan Madali
Rocky Garciano
Roel Gener
Efren Pabilona
Philip Caballero
Jeoffrey Lobaton
Philippine Army FC's starting 11 during their ASEAN Club Championship campaign in 2003

Philippine Army participated in the sole season of the Filipino Premier League in 2008, winning over Giligans in the league final match.[2]

United Football League[edit]

Philippine Army played in the now-defunct United Football League, which was the de facto top tier league in the Philippines. Initially the club was among the top teams in the league, finishing third in the 2011 season. They finished 9th in the following two seasons in. The club avoided relegation by winning against Union Internacional Manila in the playoff.[3]

Football crest as Philippine Army GTI (2014 UFL).

For the 2014 UFL season, Philippine Army had a temporary merger with General Trias International and the military squad was bolstered by Korean players.[4] The move was done due to difficulties in scheduling the training of its players, enlisted soldiers often called into duty. The team played as Philippine Army GTI for that season.[5]

At the latter part of the 2015 season, Philippine Army was disqualified from the United Football League including any related competitions.[6]

Philippines Football League[edit]

Philippine Army announced return for the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara. In 2024, They make their debut in the top-flight league, the Philippines Football League after confirming its participation in February 2024. Philippine Army played their first ever top-flight league match on 6 April 2024 in a 3–2 lost against Manila Diggers.



Players criteria[edit]

As a football club under the Armed Forces of the Philippines like the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force. Philippine Army can only sign players who are also enlisted in the Philippine Army.[3] Though for the 2014 season the squad included non-Army enlistees with the temporary merger of the club with General Trias International.

The club had players who has played for the Philippines national team such as Roel Gener, Nestorio Margarse, and Eduard Sacapaño.[3]

Players[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
5 GK Philippines PHI Carl Viray
6 DF Philippines PHI Jalsor Soriano
7 MF Philippines PHI Ricardo Becite III
8 DF Philippines PHI Nicanor Palacio Jr.
9 FW Philippines PHI Juven Benitez
10 MF Philippines PHI Jomar Acedo
11 DF Philippines PHI Chy Villaseñor
12 DF Philippines PHI John Solen
13 FW Philippines PHI Diomar Caruscay
14 FW Philippines PHI John Art Lunaspe
15 MF Philippines PHI Neil Dorimon
18 MF Philippines PHI Cyril Sanquilos
19 MF Philippines PHI Rhon Michael Reyes
20 DF Philippines PHI John Bernarte
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 GK Philippines PHI John Kent Delariarte
24 MF Philippines PHI Joshua Gatinao
25 DF Philippines PHI Mark Anthony Bedia
26 DF Philippines PHI Resty Monterona
27 FW Philippines PHI Jimuel Ariola
28 MF Philippines PHI John Celiz
30 DF Philippines PHI Joane Sumaylo
31 DF Philippines PHI Roykent Bedia
41 MF Philippines PHI Jovanie Simpron
44 MF Philippines PHI Miller Akiapat
47 DF Philippines PHI Jemark Cortes
49 DF Philippines PHI Reynan Doromal
97 MF Philippines PHI Reid Vincent Brillantes
99 GK Philippines PHI Anthony Decena

Former players[edit]

  • Philippines Lurix Araneta
  • Philippines Rey Saluria
  • Philippines Jesus Baron
  • Philippines Judy Saluria
  • Philippines Jeoffrey Lobaton
  • Philippines Wilson Dela Cruz
  • Philippines Billy Estrella
  • Philippines Roel Gener
  • Philippines Luisito Brillantes
  • Philippines Eduard Sacapaño

Continental record[edit]

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2003 ASEAN Club Championship Group stage IndiaKingfisher East Bengal 0–6 3rd
Thailand BEC Tero Sasana 0–3

Honors[edit]

Domestic competitions[edit]

  • Philippines National Championship
  • Winners (2): 1992, 2001
  • Runners-up (1): 2009
  • Manila Premier Football League
  • Runners-up (1): 1997

Records[edit]

Season Division Tms. Pos. National Cup NCRFA Tournaments Monfort Cup PFF NMCC UFL Cup AFC PC ACC
1960s Not known
1970/71 2 18 Winners
1972–1979 Not known
1980 1 9 8th
1981/83 Not known
1984 Not known Winners
1985/91 Not known
1992 No national league Winners
1993–1994 No national league
1995 1 10 Not known Runner-up
1996 No national league Runner-up
1997 1 7 Not known 3rd
1998 No national league Winners
1999 1 15 3rd
2000 No national league Winners
2001 No national league Winners
2002 No national league Winners
2003 No national league Group stage
2004 No national league Winners
2005 No national league 3rd
2006–2007 No national league
2008 1 8 Winners
2009 No national league Runner-up
2010 1 8 5th Semi-finals
2011 1 7 3rd Round of 16
2012 1 10 9th Quarter-finals
2013 1 10 9th Round of 16 Group stage DNQ
2014 1 9 7th DNQ
2015 1 10 10th (DQ)
2016–2017 Did not participate
2018 Did not participate 4th
2019 Did not participate
2020 Did not participate
2021-2022 Did not participate
2023 Did not participate Group Stage
2024 1 15
Key
  • Tms. = Number of teams
  • Pos. = Position in league
  • TBD = To be determined
  • DNQ = Did not qualify

Note: Performances of the club indicated here was after the UFL Division 1 is created in 2009.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Saaid, Hamdan (5 November 2003). "ASEAN Club Championship 2003 – Match Details". RSSSF. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  2. ^ Olivares, Rick (24 January 2012). "Air Force FC, Army FC & Navy FC: The strong, the few, and the proud are under siege". Bleacher's Brew. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Miravite, Myke (14 January 2014). "UFL Preview: Philippine Army's Last Stand". Rappler. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  4. ^ Miravite, Myke (17 January 2014). "UFL: Army topples Team Socceroo; Green Archers – Pasargad ends in draw". Rappler. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  5. ^ Guerrero, Bob (17 January 2014). "UFL: GAU held by new-look Pasargad, Army merges with GTI and wins". Yahoo! Philippines. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  6. ^ Murillo, Michael Angelo (13 August 2015). "JP Voltes earns promotion; UFL Cup KO stage begins". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 5 January 2018.

External links[edit]