Ceres-La Salle routs D’Monte in Smart meet

MANILA, Philippines - Ceres-La Salle of host Negros Occidental Football Association launched its title-retention bid in emphatic fashion, blanking Del Monte FC of Bukidon FA, 7-0, in the third PFF-Smart National Club Championship at the University of St. La Salle Gym in Bacolod City yesterday.

After Park Guen Hyung and Jalsor Soriano scored a goal each on the 10th and 13th minute, Jayson Panhay unleashed a brace in a five-minute stretch starting on the 37th as the back-to-back seeking Ceres booters surged to a 4-0 advantage at the break.

Angelo Marasigan, Jay Soriano and Azkals standout Joshua Beloya then took over and knocked in a goal each on the 47th, 62nd and 73rd, respectively.

Ceres thus tied Cavite FA’s Flame United-Cherifer, which waylaid Naga City, Camarines Sur FA’s CBSUA FC, 7-0, in the Group B lead.

Song Woo paced Flame with a double he scored on the 18th and 36th that sparked a five-goal binge in the first half.

Flame’s other scorers were Jeon Shin Seok, Jumar Dexisne, Dhan Orcine, Alvin Obero and Kenneth de Leon.

United Football League powerhouse Global FC, representing Typhoon Yolanda-ravaged Leyte FA, likewise opened its title bid with a bang after it dismantled Baguio FA’s Baguio State U, 8-1, at the Bago City Sports Complex in Bago City.

The annual tournament is held as a tool to discover potential talents from the provinces that it hopes to tap for future national teams for international meets including the Southeast Asian Games.

Global, the last team that made it to the final stage after turning back Cebu FA, 6-2, last week, was playing Palawan FC at presstime.