Ceres, Global roll into Smart football semis

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Ceres-La Salle Bacolod and Global FC routed their respective rivals while Flame United-Cherifer nipped Del Monte FC of Bukidnon FA to advance to the semifinal round of the PFF-Smart National Club Championship in two separate venues in Bacolod and Bago City yesterday.

Jalsor Soriano came away with six goals as the Ceres booters, representing host Negros Occidental Football Association, overpowered the Naga City-Camsur FA’s CBSUA FC side, 16-0, at the Bago City Sports Complex to rule Group B with a perfect score of nine match points and advance to the semis.

Global FC, representing super typhoon-ravaged Leyte FA, smashed Zamboanga FA’s Alia FC, 13-0, on the strength of an equally spectacular six-goal performance by Sudanese striker Izzeldin Elhabib to remain unscathed in Group A with nine points and likewise advance to the next phase.

The Dan Palami-managed Global side had actually one match left in its schedule against Davao FA’s Columbia FC today but will remain the No. 1 seed in its bracket regardless of the result.

Global thus arranged a semis showdown with Cavite FA’s Flame United Cherifer FC, which finished second in Group A with six match points on two victories against a lone defeat after edging Del Monte FC of Bukidnon FA, 2-1, last Sunday at the Panaad pitch.

Down by a goal after a 14th minute goal by Del Monte’s Danilo Sibulburo, Flame fought its way back with Korean strikers Song Woo and Jeon Shin Seok delivering the pair decisive goals in a 10-minute stretch starting on the 61st to complete the come-from-behind win.