Philippines national American football team

Last updated

Philippines
PH Aguilas Logo.png
Association American Tackle Football Federation of the Philippines
Continent Asia
ColorsBlue, red, yellow
Nickname(s)All-Star Aguilas
Uniform
Kit helmet phaguilas2014.png
Kit left arm af.png Kit body af phaguilas2014.png Kit right arm af.png
Kit trousers.png
Kit socks af.png
 

The Philippines national American football team or the Philippines national tackle football team represented the Philippines in international American football competitions. The team was organized under the American Tackle Football Federation of the Philippines (ATFFP), which was founded by Bernaro "Dodi" Palma II in 2009. [1]

Contents

History

Early history

American Football has been in the Philippines since as early as 2001, with the flag football variant being introduced first. A flag football league was established, with its teams defeating other teams from China and Singapore. Around 2010, tackle football was introduced with a league on the standard variant of football being established by then. An international club team called the Philippine Punishers was formed which defeated teams from China, Hong Kong, and Saipan. [2]

Debut as the Philippine Aguilas

The Philippines hosted its first international friendly at home at the Emperador Stadium. Emperadorstadium.jpg
The Philippines hosted its first international friendly at home at the Emperador Stadium.

In 2014, the first official national tackle football team, which was called Philippine Aguilas, was organized. [2] They made their first official international debut [3] at the 2015 IFAF World Championship Asian qualifier game against Japan on April 26, 2014. The Philippines was defeated by Japan on their first game with the score 0-86. [1] [4] [5]

The Philippines hosted their first ever international friendly at home against the Western Australian Raiders of the Australian Gridiron League. [3] [6] The national team lost the match held at the Emperador Stadium by 7–56. [7] In 2015, the team organized a friendly match against the Korea Tigers, a team bannered by the Korea University. [8] The Aguilas lost to the Tigers, with the close scoreline of 33–38. [9]

Aguila All-Star era

The national team is funded by its players, not by the government. It occasionally receives funds from sponsors. In 2016, a non-profit Player's Association was formed by players, which are part of teams that were part of ArenaBall Philippines such as the Bandits, Knights, Renegades, Wolves, and the Vanguards, as well as from other leagues such as the Templars and the Neros which were newly formed by the time of the association's establishment. This association uses its funds for international games, a free league and for charity events. The core of the national team is composed of players from this association and has adopted the moniker "All-Star Aguilas". This team is also known as the "Aguila All-Stars". [2]

All-Star Aguilas won their first match against an international opposition [2] when they won over the Korean Tigers at their second meeting at the PHIL-KOR Cup in February 2016. [10] [11]

Tackle football activity in general in the Philippines was distrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic which started in 2020. [12]

Fixtures and results

DateLocationHomeScoreAwayTournamentResultRef.
April 26, 2014VITAL Field, Tokyo Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 86–0 Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines 2015 IFAF World Championship qualification Lost [13]
August 16, 2014 Emperador Stadium, Taguig Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines7–56 Flag of Australia (converted).svg W.A. Raiders Friendly Lost [7]
March 1, 2015Emperador Stadium, Taguig Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines33–38 Flag of South Korea.svg Korea Tigers Friendly (2015 PHIL-KOR Cup)Lost [9]
March 1, 2016Chelsea FC Blue Pitch Circuit, Makati Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines19–8 Flag of South Korea.svg Korea TigersFriendly (2016 PHIL-KOR Cup)Won [11] [14]

IFAF World Championship record

YearPositionGPWLPFPA
Flag of Italy.svg 1999 Did not enter,
not yet an IFAF member
Flag of Germany.svg 2003
Flag of Japan.svg 2007
Flag of Austria.svg 2011
Flag of the United States.svg 2015 Did not qualify

Coaches

Nat.Head coachTermTournament
Flag of the Philippines.svg William Yeh2014 [5] 2015 IFAF World Championship qualification
Flag of Croatia.svg Ivan Klaric2014 [15] N/A (Friendly against Western Australia Raiders)
Flag of the United States.svg John Walker2015 [16] [17] 2015 PHL-KOR Cup
Flag of the Philippines.svg Edlen Hernandez [18] 20162016 PHIL-KOR Cup

References

  1. 1 2 "Pilipinas Aguilas set to take flight in American football". Interaksyon. February 17, 2014. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Suarez, J.P. (February 22, 2016). History of Philippines Tackle Football, All-Star Aguilas. YouTube. PW Sports. Event occurs at Philippines. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Velasco, Bill (August 16, 2014). "Aguilas' Day of Reckoning". The Philippine Star . Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  4. ↑ Leyba, Olmin (February 17, 2014). "Aguilas venture into tackle football, vie in Asian elims". ABS-CBN News . The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Ikezawa, Hiroshi (April 26, 2014). "Japan rolls to 2015 IFAF berth with rout". The Japan Times . Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  6. ↑ Velasco, Bill (July 21, 2014). "The Aguilas' first homestand". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Fernandez, Rhoel (August 18, 2014). "Aguilas finally find end zone, but admits journey to respectability has just begun". Sports Interactive Network Philippines . Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  8. ↑ Kelly, Roger (February 28, 2015). "Philippines National Team To Host Korean Tigers in PHIL-KOR Cup". AFI Review. American Football International, LLC. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  9. 1 2 Kelly, Roger (March 2, 2015). "Korean Tigers Defeat Pilpinas Aguilas, Philippines National Team". AFI Review. American Football International, LLC. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  10. ↑ "All-Star Aguilas win Phil-Kor Cup 2016 against Korea Tigers". Inquirer Pop. March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Aguilas dump Tigers in PHL-Korean Cup". Sun Star Bacolod. February 29, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  12. ↑ Caniza, Annika (July 1, 2024). "This NFL Player Says Pinoys Can Shine in Flag Football". The Game. One Mega Group Inc. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  13. ↑ "アメリカンフットボール日本代表オフィシャルサイト". American Football Japan National Team (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  14. ↑ Kelly, Roger (March 14, 2016). "Team Philippines Knocks Off Korean Tigers". AFI Review. American Football International, LLC. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  15. ↑ Guerrero, Bob (April 14, 2014). "Philippine Aguilas American Football Team Take on Aussies in Emperador This Sunday". Bob Guerrero PH. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Korea Tigers hand Pilipinas Aguilas 3rd straight loss". The Summit Express. March 1, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  17. ↑ Fernandez, Rhoel (March 1, 2015). "Pilipinas Aguilas denied by late Korean Tigers touchdown in international friendly". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Phil-Kor Cup: PH tackle team goes head to head against Korea". Inquirer Pop. February 17, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
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