By Adrian Stewart Co

Ceres-Negros FC failed to maintain their lead against Mendiola FC in their Copa Paulino Alcántara opener over the weekend at the Aboitiz Pitch in Lipa City, Batangas after a second half equalizer proved decisive for the Manila-based side.
Striker Robert Lopez Mendy put Ceres on the board early with a goal in the fourth minute. He followed that up with another goal in the 31st minute off a pass from midfielder Takashi Odawara. However, a minute into first half stoppage time, Mendiola striker Hamed Hajimehdi narrowed the gap to one goal, leaving the Negrense club going into halftime up 2-1.
Into the second half, Mendiola forward Papuh Corsarme scored the equalizer in the 64th minute.
“We have many players that didn’t play in the league,” said Ceres head coach Risto Vidaković. “I wanted to give them a chance to prove themselves.”
The Bacolod City-based club won all four of their 2019 Philippine Football League meetings with Mendiola this season, scoring an aggregate 16 goals to three. Ceres midfielder Bienvenido Marañon scored a total of five goals against the Manila-based club; while Lopez Mendy put up six goals for Ceres, including four in their 5-2 win last August.
Meanwhile, defending champions Kaya FC-Iloilo kicked off their cup campaign with a 5-0 domination over the Philippine Air Force FC./ASC, WDJ