Ceres were the defending champions after beating PSG 1-0 on February 2, 2013.[1] This is the first time the Negros Occidental-based club won the championship.
On 21 December 2013, Ceres retained the title after beating Global, 3-1 on aggregate in a two-leg finals. The cup winners, Ceres is guaranteed a place in the 2015 AFC Cup Play-off.
Competition format
This competition increased its participating teams from 33 in the previous year to 46 teams, breaking Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao clusters into regional sub-clusters. The tournament format was single round-robin in group stage with top teams advancing to the next round. In this edition of the tournament, each team was allowed up to five foreign players in their rosters with up to three playing at a given time.[2]
Regional qualifiers
The regional cluster eliminations for the tournament started last October 2, 2013 with ten teams advancing to the second round of eliminations. From there, the top two teams contested the title in two legs to be played in a home-and-away format.[3]
Luzon Cluster
North-central Luzon cluster was held from October 2 to 6, 2013 at Tarlac Sports Complex.
BSU FC represented Baguio-Benguet Football Association.
Representative (or selection) from Tarlac Football Association
Representative from Pangasinan Football Association (or selection) was originally included, but later withdrew participation.[4]
Representative from Isabela Football Association (or selection) was originally included, but later withdrew participation.[5]
Representative from Ilocos Football Association (or selection) was originally included, but later withdrew participation.[6]
South-central Luzon cluster was held from October 4 to 6, 2013 at General Trias Football Field, Cavite City/De La Salle University, Dasmariñas, Cavite.
Flame United FC represented Cavite Football Association.
South Luzon cluster was held from October 23 to 25, 2013 at Naga city.
CBSUA FC represented Naga City-Camarines Sur Football Association.
Representative (or selection) from Legaspi City-Albay Football Association
Representative (or selection) from Sorsogon Football Association
Representative (or selection) from Football Association of Masbate. Masbate later on withdrew from the tournament.[8]
Representative (or selection) from Camarines Norte Football Association
Visayas Cluster
Group stage for Visayas clusters was held in Bacolod and Cebu from November 8 to 17, 2013. Visayas cluster was grouped into two:
West Visayas Cluster was held from October 2 to 6, 2013 at Panaad Sports Complex, Bacolod.
FC Azukals represented Negros Oriental Football Association among the regional qualifiers which were held in October 2013. The Azukals came on top of nine other clubs in the 4th Silliman Football Club tournament held in Dumaguete.[9] FC Azukals defeated Foundation University FC, 5-3 in the finals held on June 12, 2013 at Filomeno Cimafranca Ballfield, Silliman University.[10]
Representative (or selection) from Capiz Football Association. Later, Capiz FA withdrew participation.
East-central Visayas cluster was held from October 2 to 6, 2013 at Leyte Development Sports Center, Tacloban City.
Hijos FC represented Northern Samar Football Association.
Global FC represented Leyte Football Association. Leyte Football Association was later disqualified.[11] The PFF has later allowed Global FC to participate under Leyte FA. On October 26, 2013, Global FC routed against Hijos FC 23-0 at the Leyte Sports Development Center in Tacloban City during the regional qualifiers.[12]
Representative (or selection) from Bohol Football Association. Later on, Bohol FA withdrew participation.
Representative (or selection) from Calbayog Football Association. Later on, Calbayog FA withdrew participation.
Mindanao Cluster
North Mindanao cluster was held from October 2 to 6, 2013 at Hon. Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center, Cagayan de Oro City.
Montecarlo FC represented Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental Football Association.
Manolo Fortich FC represented Bukidnon Football Association.
Oliveros FC represented from Iligan-Lanao del Norte Football Association. Iligan-Lanao del Norte FA later withdrew participation.
Slakza FC represented Surigao del Norte Football Association.
Representative (or selection) from Butuan-Agusan del Norte Football Association. Butuan-Agusan del Norte FA later withdrew participation.
Central Mindanao cluster was held from October 28 to 30, 2013 at Jose Rizal Memorial State University Sports Complex, Dapitan City.
Alia FC represented Zamboanga City Football Association.
Dipolog United FC represented Zamboanga del Norte-Dipolog Football Association.
Royals FC represented Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian Football Association.
Representative (or selection) from Misamis Oriental-Ozamiz Football Association
South Mindanao cluster was held at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex (DNSTC) in Tagum City from October 2 to 7, 2013 at Davao del Norte Sports and Cultural Center.[13]
Prosperidad FC represented Agusan del Sur Football Association.
MACO FC represented Compostela Valley Football Association.
UM Tagum FC represented Davao del Norte Football Association.
Mati FC represented Mati-Davao Oriental Football Association.
West Mindanao cluster was held from October 18 to 20, 2013 at South Cotabato Sports Komplex, Koronadal.
M'lang FC represented North Cotabato Football Association.
Real Marbel FC represented Football Association of South Cotabato.
Representative (or selection) from Maguindanao Cotabato City Football Association
Representative (or selection) from Sultan Kudarat Football Association
Group stage
Ten clubs from previous cluster eliminations advanced to the next round. Group Stage matches was held from December 9 to 13, 2013.[14] with two groups of 5. Top two clubs advanced to semifinals.
Luzon Cluster
BSU FC of Baguio-Benguet Football Association qualified for north-central Luzon cluster. BSU FC qualified by beating Tarlac FA, 5-0, on 2 October 2013.
Flame United-Cherifer FC of Cavite Football Association qualified for south-central Luzon cluster. Flame United qualified by beating Mendiola FC, 2-1, on 5 October 2013.
Palawan FC of Palawan Football Association qualified for south west Luzon cluster.[15] Palawan FC qualified by drawing Laguna FA, 2-2, on 16 October 2013; routing Quezon FA, 10-0, on 17 October 2013; defeating Oriental Mindoro FA, 5-1, on 18 October 2013.
CBSUA FC of Naga City-Camarines Sur Football Association qualified for south Luzon cluster.[16] CBSUA FC qualified by beating Legazpi Albay, 1-0, FA on 23 October 2013; 6-0 drubbing of Sorsogon FA on 24 October 2013; and defeating Camarines Norte FA, 2-1, on 25 October 2013.
Visayas Cluster
Global FC of Leyte Football Association qualified after defeating Cebu Queen City United FC.[17]
Manolo Fortich-Del Monte FC of Bukidnon Football Association qualified for north Mindanao cluster.[19] Del Monte FC qualified by defeating Slakza FC, 5-2, on 3 October 2013; defeating Montecarlo FC, 3-1, on 5 October 2013.
Columbia FC of Davao Football Association qualified for south Mindanao cluster. Columbia FC qualified by drawing Mati FC, 1-1, on 2 October 2013; defeating Maco FC, 6-1, on 3 October 2013; defeating UM Tagum FC, 3-0, on 4 October 2013; and routing Prosperidad FC, 7-1, on 6 October 2013.
Alia FC of Zamboanga City Football Association qualified for central Mindanao cluster.[20]
M'lang FC of North Cotabato Football Association qualified for west Mindanao cluster. M'lang FC qualified by beating Sultan Kudarat FA, 8-2, on 18 October 2013 and beating neighbors South Cotabato, 2-1, on 20 October 2013. M'lang FC has withdrawn due to a regional meet that it has earlier pledged to participate.[21]
Groupings were drawn on 7 December 2013.
Key to colours in group tables
Group winners and runners-up advance to the crossover Semi-Finals
Top two squads advanced to the crossover semifinals where the No. 1 team of Group A clashes with the No. 2 squad of Group B and the No. 1 team of Group B tackles the No. 2 side of Group A in a pair of two home-and-away matches. The semis winners will move on the finals where they will battle it out for the coveted title, the nice top prize and the distinction as the best club team in the land.[22] The venue is held at Panaad Sports Complex and North Football Field, Bacolod, Negros Occidental.
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Jerome Galunan Jr. (September 30, 2013). "Leyte, Batangas disqualified in Smart-PFF Club C'ships". Watchmen Daily Journal. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013. Batangas FA was [...] found with [...] violations after [they] submitted its club participant from the Philippine Air Force Football Club (PAFFC) and non-submission of provincial elimination report.
^
Jerome Galunan Jr. (September 30, 2013). "Leyte, Batangas disqualified in Smart-PFF Club C'ships". Watchmen Daily Journal. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013. [T]he PFF Competitions Committee [...] have concluded that two (2) violations have been clearly committed by Leyte FA. First, by submitting the players and officials and/or the Global FC as its official club entry who is a regular member of the NCRFA and second, no provincial elimination report was submitted that would justify its official representative to the competition.