The Azkals Development Team has withdrawn from the Philippines Football League.
The ADT and the PFL announced on Tuesday that the youth team has submitted its intention to pull out of the league.
All future matches involving the club will result in three-goal wins for its competitors.
“ADT was formed to complement the Philippine Football Federation’s efforts to continuously prepare young Filipino athletes for international competitions, including the Southeast Asian Games,” read an excerpt from the ADT’s statement.
“While our entire organization would have preferred to be in a more optimal situation, recent events have compelled us to take this action,” it continued.
“Finally, our commitment to youth development remains through the Azkals Development Academy.”
The ADT first competed in the PFL during the 2020 season. Under former Azkals coach Scott Cooper’s guidance, the Jarvey Gayoso-powered squad finished third in the league.
The following year, the ADT reached the final of the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara, where it lost 1-0 to champions Kaya-Iloilo thanks to Kenshiro Daniels’ 47th-minute goal.
The ADT reached as high as third place in the league table during the current season. Fielding the likes of Stephan Schrock, Jacob Maniti, and Dov Carino, the ADT managed to secure wins against Mendiola 1991, Stallion Laguna, and Maharlika Manila while drawing 2-2 against defending champion United City.
Before this development, the ADT was scheduled to play against Maharlika on Wednesday, Dynamic Cerb Cebu on May 27, Mendiola on June 3, and Stallion on June 7 and 10.
All these teams were awarded 3-0 victories due to this situation.
It remains to be seen how the PFL will manage this latest setback as it also lost United City last February. As of now, only Kaya-Iloilo, Stallion Laguna, Maharlika Manila, Mendiola 1991, and Dynamic Herb Cebu are the remaining teams in the PFL.
Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the country’s top-flight league, the PFL is keeping its hopes up that things will eventually fall into place down the line.
“PFL looks forward to its expanded program of the Copa Paulino Alcantara, which is projected to comprise twenty (20) teams. The Cup competition is seen as an opportunity for high-performing amateur clubs/teams. Qualified and successful teams or clubs hope to receive an invite to the newly restructured league in the 2023-2024 season,” read an excerpt from the PFL statement.
