Ceres Negros crushes Global Cebu, keeps title

MANILA, Philippines — High-powered Ceres Negros FC sealed its second straight Philippines Football League crown with three games to spare after blitzing past Global Cebu, 6-1, Wednesday night at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Bienvenido Maranon blasted a hattrick while Mike Ott, Omid Nazari and Blake Powell joined the fray as the Busmen achieved a title repeat and earned the right to represent Phl in next year’s AFC Champions League Play-off Round.

The Bacolod-based crew assembled an insurmountable 54 points built around an impressive card of 17 wins, three draws and only two losses in 22 games,  21 markers clear of second-running Kaya FC Iloilo. 

“I think the team deserves this title. During the whole league, they played the best football and we really deserve it,” said Risto Vidakovic.

Spanish striker Maranon struck in the 23rd, 70th and 88th minutes while Ott and Nazari accounted for their two other goals in the first half and new Aussie signing Powell scored in the 75th. Marvin Angeles averted a shut out loss for last year’s PFL runners-up by slamming it into the net in the 48th.

“It feels good. We want to play hard and try to win every game so we’re really happy we finished with the title and we’re looking forward to the next game in the AFC Cup,” said Ott, referring to the Busmen’s duel for the AFC Cup’s Asean zone title with Singapore side Home United, which begins with the first leg on Aug. 1 at Panaad Stadium.