Season 2 of the Lipa Football League Kicks Off at the Aboitiz Pitch

Season 2 Opening Ceremonies.  Image source:  The Outlets at Lipa Facebook page.

Sept. 30 – An expanded Lipa Football League kicked off its Season 2 in simple ceremonies held at the Aboitiz Pitch of The Outlets at Lipa on 30 September 2018. The second season of the league is co-presented by local club ACF Real Molinillo de Lipa, the league’s creator, and the soon-to-open The Outlets at Lipa of the Aboitiz Group of Companies.

From five clubs in its inaugural season, the league has expanded to eight, with ACF Real Molinillo de Lipa and De la Salle Lipa represented by two teams. The former is fielding a team which carries the club’s name, while its second team is called Coffee Millers FC. The latter, meanwhile, is fielding its high school team as La Salle FC, while its college team is called the Green Stallions FC.

Last season’s Brahman FC, which was UB-Lipa’s official representative to the league’s opening season, opted not to participate this year. The school still has representation, however, in new club Legends FC, made up of alumni. Meanwhile, last season’s BCAS FC has been renamed Lipa Emmanuel FC after the club’s kit sponsor.

Returning to defend its title is FC Reigning Kickers, the core of which is made up of players from the Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa; and the first season’s youngest club, Kings FC, made up of players from the Stonyhurst International School-Lipa Campus.

Apart from the DLSL clubs and Legends FC, the league’s other debutant clubs are Mentors FC from the Philippine Air Force’s Basilio Fernando Air Base; and guest team Real Baraco FC from Batangas City.

The Outlets at Lipa's General Manager Joey Zamora delivering his remarks.  Image source:  The Outlets at Lipa Facebook page.

The simple opening ceremonies began with a parade of all participating teams quickly followed by an opening prayer led by Luis Martin Canlas of ACF Real Molinillo de Lipa.

In his short remarks, The Outlets at Lipa General Manager Joey Zamora welcomed all the member clubs to The Outlets at Lipa and thanked Lipa Football League “for choosing the Aboitiz Pitch” to be its “home” for Season 2.

Zamora would then be joined by Marice Ofrin, Commercial Marketing Manager of Aboitiz Land, and ACF Real Molinillo de Lipa Founder and Chairman Rex Raymond Torrecampo for the ceremonial kick-off.

Joey Zamora with Marice Ofrin of Aboitiz Land and Rex Raymond Torrecampo of ACF Real Molinillo de Lipa with the opening kicks.  Image source:  The Outlets at Lipa Facebook page.

The short opening ceremonies concluded with the oath of sportsmanship led by Season 1’s most valuable player and top goalscorer Michael Angelo Hernandez of FC Reigning Kickers.