CERES-NEGROS FC’S standing as the most dominant football club in the country right now was further highlighted on Wednesday as it sealed its conquest of the Philippines Football League title for a second year in a row.
Defeating Global Cebu FC, 6-1, at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, the “Busmen” had completed a dominant season in the PFL that saw them rack up an impressive record of 17 wins, three draws, and two losses for a total of 54 points with three remaining league matches on their schedule.
Ceres was on point right from the start against Global, with Spanish striker Bievenido Marañon leading with a hat trick.
r. Marañon got the scoring parade for Ceres going at the 23rd minute before Mike Ott and Omid Nazari added goals of their own in the 36th and 39th minute, respectively, to make it 3-0 by the halftime break.
Global tried to make things happen to start the second half, with Marvin Angeles puncturing through for his team at the 48th minute to make it a 3-1 count.
But that would be the farthest they could go as Mr. Marañon (70’ and 88’) and Blake Powell (75’) extended the Ceres juggernaut the rest of the way as they made their way to the win.
“It feels good. We really wanted to play every game hard and try to win every game. We are really happy that we finished our goal with the title,” said Mr. Ott, who was named man of the match after, in the post-match press conference.
Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic, meanwhile, gave props to his players for the go-getting mind-set they have displayed in the tournament.
“The team deserves this title. I think during the whole league, they played the best football and I think we really deserve it,” he said.
By winning the PFL title, Ceres earned the right to represent the country in the prestigious AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup next year.
Currently at second place is Kaya FC-Iloilo at 33 points while third is Davao Aguilas FC at 28. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
--This article was published in "BusinessWorld"--
