With the calendar winding down, things heat up in the UFL

Kaya, Loyola and Global are all in serious contention for the United Football league title with only a few games left to play. With what is undoubtedly the best season of UFL action so far, the league has grown by leaps and bounds in the three seasons it has been running. With the Air Force winning the first two seasons of the UFL league a new champion will be crowned this year. Dropping to seventh place, the Air Force are suffering from an aging squad despite winning the UFL Cup last year. Meanwhile Kaya currently occupy first place with 36 points from 16 games. They have only two games left to play, against Pasargad and Stallions, while Global are hot on their heels in second place with 35 points from 15 games. Global will climb above Kaya if they win their game in hand. Meanwhile, the Loyola Meralco Sparks are in third with 32 points, but having played only 14 games so far, they can theoretically catch Global and Kaya if they win those games. Last-minute equalizers Aly Borromeo’s return to action couldn’t have come at a better time for Kaya as his last minute-equalizer against Global meant the team walked away with a point and kept them in contention for the title. A loss to Global would have resulted in Kaya dropping behind Global by two points. Coupled with the fact that Kaya has played one more game than their opponents, a loss would have definitely been crippling. Meanwhile Kaya also suffered a last-minute equalizer while leading against Loyola earlier this month as James Younghusband scored in injury time to level the game at 2-2. These draws have kept the title race wide open and all three clubs are in serious contention, with Loyola set to face Global in their next game after it was previously postponed, in order for the Sparks to compete in the Singapore Cup. The winner of that clash will take a large step towards securing the title while the loser will likely be too far behind to catch up. The early front-runners and dark horses of the league, Stallions F.C., have slipped back in recent weeks suffering defeats to Loyola and Pasargad. They could upset the title race yet, however, as they will still face Global and Kaya in their remaining fixtures. Comfortably in fourth, seven points ahead of Pasargad, the young team has already exceeded pre-season expectations and are in a good position to build on for next season, with some promising young players. Relegation candidates At the other end of the table, Navy and Green Archers are contesting the wooden spoon and relegation. Navy failed to win a game last season and having won just one game this season, they are in a perilous position with four points. Five points adrift of the Green Archers and with just four games left to claw back those points, it will be difficult for them. If they can pick up a couple of points in the next three games, however, they will be set for an all-or-nothing clash with Green Archers on the last day of the season, with the loser facing relegation to the second division. Their heavy 14-0 loss to Loyola, the biggest in either league this season, may be a big blow however,  as it means their goal difference is the worst in the league. The Green Archers and Navy also finished in the bottom two positions in last year’s league but as the UFL expanded, there was no relegation that year and the league added three teams instead. This time round, however, the bottom club will drop to the second division. UFL Second Division Pachanga FC look certain to take that spot in the top division after dominating the league by dropping just two points in their seventeen games so far. With sixteen wins and a draw, they look set to win promotion, with only Diliman F.C. realistically placed to overtake them. Five points behind, Diliman F.C. are the only team so far not to lose both their games to Pachanga and with only one loss throughout the season, they’ve had a great campaign. With only one slot open for promotion though, Diliman F.C. will probably have to wait until next season to try again unless Pachanga slip up. Behind an in-form Freddy Gonzalez, he has scored 27 goals in 17 games and is the leading scorer in both UFL divisions, it will take something big for Diliman to climb above Pachanga. Feeding the national team The UFL has taken serious leaps forward this season, attracting the likes of Azkals Angel Guirado, Carli De Murga, Lexton Moy and Nate Burkey to join the Younghusband brothers in the Philippines. The increasing number of younger, home-grown players joining training camps has shown the league’s potential for feeding players into the National Team. The league continues to grow and with the right investment in pitches, schedules, and youth development. There is no reason why the Philippines can’t have one of the best leagues in South-East Asia. Loyola’s win in the first round of the Singapore Cup shows the huge developments of Philippine Football and their next test against one of Burma’s top sides, Kanbawza FC, will help show that further in July. We can now expect more Philippine teams to join other international competitions in the region as the quality of club football in the Philippines grows. Meanwhile this season looks set to end on a high note, as with three teams left competing for the title, the excitement grows ahead of the final few games. The speculation continues as to who can clinch the title and this writer is reminded of his prediction at the start of the season that Global would win the league. If anyone wants to take a bet, just let me know. - AMD, GMA News