Lighter AFC Cup group matches for Ceres-La Salle

United Football League champion Ceres-La Salle landed in a relatively easier group, while Kaya found itself with a mountain to climb as two Filipino sides vie in the main tournament of the 2016 AFC Cup for the first time starting February.

A team anchored by national team standouts Manny Ott and Patrick Reichelt, Ceres landed in Group E which is also composed of Selangor of Malaysia and Lt. Sheikh Jhamal Dhanmodi Club of Bangladesh.

Tampines Rovers or Warriors FC complete the group.

Nonetheless, Ceres coach Ali Go believes preparation will be the key to the Bacolod side’s bid to make the knockout phase.

“I think the draw was good for us and our chance of advancing to the knockout stage is very good,” said Go. “We can beat teams from Singapore and Malaysia. It will now depend on how we prepare for the tournament.”

Ceres will have three home games which will be played at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City. Only the top two sides from each group will make the Round of 16 of the competition.

Kaya will have its hands full in Group F, which also has Kitchee of Hong Kong, Balestier Khalsa of Singapore and New Radiant of the Maldives.

“We are just ecstatic to be in the group stage,” said Kaya manager Paul Tolentino.

“We want to make waves.”