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UFL Cup draw set, action starts Tuesday

The 2012 United Football League Cup groups are known and some intriguing match-ups are on tap.

At the UFL press conference in Krocodile Grill in Greenbelt on Friday, League champs Global drew Pasargad in Group A while runner-ups Kaya will battle Green Archers United Globe in Group B.

The Loyola Meralco Sparks are in a tough Group C with Nomads Auction Manila and newly-promoted Pachanga, while defending Cup champs Air Force will play seeded Stallion in Group D.

There are five teams in each single-round robin group, with the top two making it to the quarterfinals. From there it's single-elimination all the way to the final match.

The UFL Cup Final was originally scheduled for November 15, but since that's also the date of the Azkals' International match versus Singapore in Cebu, the game has been tentatively moved to Saturday, November 17, according to UFL Chairman Santi Araneta.

The top four teams in the league were automatically distributed into the four groups, then a second pot composed of the next four division one clubs was created and drawn from to meet them in those groups. A third pot of the best two second division clubs (Pachanga and Diliman) and the lowest-ranked first division teams (Army Fritz and Macziol and Navy) comprised the third round of drawing.

Then the next eight teams came from the winners of the UFL Cup qualifying stage, mostly between the lower-ranked UFL Division 2 clubs and new clubs, with the Div 2 teams enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage. These clubs were randomly distributed.

In that stage three new teams crashed the UFL Cup party, with a Korean-bolstered Gen Trias International team hammering Manila All-Japan 5-0 twice, and Sta. Lucia eliminating Union International Manila via penalties after a goalless first game, then 3-2 in the second match.

Returning club Mendiola United defeated Masbate 4-0 in a matchup of two teams that were not in the UFL last season, so it was a one-game winner-take-all affair.

Unlike the League, UFL Cup games will now be aired on prime time on Tuesdays. Vitto Lazatin, TV5 Sports Manager, explained that "there is a much larger audience on prime time, not just for sports but for TV in general."

The highlights of the other matches will be edited into three-to-five minute highlight packages that will be shown as interstitials on AKTV during the day.

The league kicks off on Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium with Global squaring off against Pasargad and Kaya taking on Green Archers United Globe.

All the televised matches will be played either in the University of Makati or in Rizal Memorial. When asked if the upcoming McKinley Hill Football Stadium would be ready in time for the Cup, Araneta said "there is a small chance that it will be ready but I won't bet on it."

The top eight teams of the Cup plus the two best third placers in the group will also qualify for the Smart National Club Championship which will start in January next year, before the UFL League kicks off in February. Six regional qualifiers will also participate in that tournament.

Unlike last season, the Cup finish will not affect the League status of a team, so if a Division 2 club wins it all, it will still not play in the top flight.

There will be some sibling rivalry during the Cup, with two teams playing their sister clubs. Green Archers United Globe will battle feeder club Forza in Group B, while Stallion drew Sta. Lucia in Group D.

Stallion and Sta. Lucia have different owners but the same coaching staff.

When asked who he thought might be a pre-tournament favorite, Araneta quipped "I'm sure you saw Global play last night so they are a strong team."

Araneta was referring to the Azkals, who beat Macau in the Peace Cup fielding nine Global players.

Complete groups:

Group A: Global, Pasargad, Navy, General Trias International, Socceroo.

Group B: Kaya, Green Archers United Globe, Diliman, Forza, Dolphins.

Group C: Loyola Meralco, Nomads Auction Manila, Pachanga, Laos, Mendiola United.

Group D: Penson Stallion Giligan's, Philippine Air Force, Army F&M, Sta. Lucia, Loyola Agila.

OTHER NOTES: I saw Jeffrey Lobaton last night representing Army Fritz and Macziol. The 38-year old has lost a lot of weight and looks in great shape.... I met Josh Boone of Pasargad. The Chicago Inferno star is one-fourth Filipino but with his blue eyes and blonde hair is easily the least Pinoy-looking Pinoy I have met since, er, Craig Burrows.... UFL Commissioner Bonnie Ladrido tweeted that "with all due respect to my friends in Agila, Group D should just be played in Iloilo." That group features Stallion, Sta. Lucia, Army, and Air Force, who all have a strong Ilonggo presence.... There is much debate over which group is the proverbial Group of Death. My vote goes to Group C, with Loyola, Nomads, and Pachanga all hoping to make the quarters. The Group of Life is Group B, with Kaya and Archers the clear favorites to progress.

You can follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.