Ceres kicks off title defense with win

CERES-La Salle of host Negros Occidental Football Association routed a listless Del Monte FC of Bukidnon FA, 7-0, to jumpstart its title-retention bid in the 3rd PFF-Smart National Club Championship at University of St. La Salle Gym in Bacolod City yesterday.

Park Guen Hyung and Jalsor Soriano took turns in blasting a goal each in the 10th and 13th minute before Jayson Panhay unleashed a brace a five-minute span starting on the 37th to give defending champion Ceres a commanding 4-0 lead at the break.

Angelo Marasigan (47th), Jay Soriano (62nd) and Azkals standout Joshua Beloya (73rd) completed the rout for Ceres, which surprised everyone by snatching the crown in last year’s edition.

The victory sent Ceres atop Group B alongside Cavite FA’s Flame United-Cherifer, which waylaid Naga City, Camarines Sur FA’s CBSUA FC, 7-0.

Song Woo paced Flame with a double he scored in the 18th and 36th that sparked a five-goal opening 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 Leyte FA, likewise opened its championship aspiration with a bang after it dismantled Baguio FA’s Baguio State U, 8-1, at Bago City Sports Complex.

The PFF stages the yearly tournament to discover talents from the provinces that it hopes to tap for future national teams for international meets including the Southeast Asian Games.

Global FC owner Dan Palami, the Azkals team manager, said that the team is dedicating all their games to the survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” back home in Leyte.

Their depth has installed them as one of the squads to beat in this 12-day tournament staking P100,000 to the champion.

The competing teams came here with almost the same rosters that played in the recent UFL Cup.