By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.
Following their 7-1 demolition of Global Cebu FC over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, Ceres-Negros FC are currently one win away from defending their Philippines Football League (PFL) title.
A penalty kick was awarded to the Negrense club after midfielder Manuel Ott was fouled in the box while on a run towards goal. Midfielder Bienvenido Marañón successfully converted the penalty and put Ceres on the board in the 18th minute. Three minutes later, Ceres striker Curt Dizon, after weaving through a couple Global defenders, doubled the score.
Around the 40th minute, Ceres forward Blake Powell almost made it 3-0 off a pass from Marañón; however, the attempt was blocked by Global keeper Jun Badelic.
The match went into halftime with Ceres up 2-0.
Shortly after the second half kickoff, the roles were reversed and Powell fed Marañón, who earned a brace and put the Negrense side up 3-0 in the 48th minute.
Ten minutes later, Global striker Gerardo Valmayor III pulled one back with a header off a free kick, making it 3-1.
Ceres midfielder OJ Porteria and Powell made subsequent attempts, with the former hitting the side-netting and the latter sending the ball well over goal.
Powell eventually found the back of the net in the 69th minute, giving Ceres a 4-1 lead a series of passes off a corner.
Porteria also made up for his earlier miss in the 74th minute, with Badelic well out of position, the midfielder managed to tap the ball into the goal, making it 5-1. He later offered an assist for Ceres striker Omid Nazari, who put the team up 6-1.
Defender Martin Steuble scored the seventh goal just before the end of regulation time.
The win keeps Ceres atop the PFL table at 51 points, 18 points ahead of second place Kaya FC-Iloilo and one win away from defending their title.
Meanwhile, with the recent return of goalkeeper Roland Müller, Ceres announced goalie Louie Michael Casas has been released.
“It’s been the best ride,” he said. “Thank you Ceres-Negros FC.”
Casas had been with the club for six years and made 54 appearances./WDJ