Ceres hands Guirado fitting retirement gift

Azkals head coach Thomas Dooley (L) and team captain Juani Guirado discuss their March 29 match against Korea.

CERES-LA SALLE gave retiring skipper Juani Guirado a memorable send-off with a 16-0 demolition of Pasargad in the United Football League (UFL) at Rizal Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Adrian Gallardo knocked in a season-high eight goals, but it was Guirado’s sudden retirement that turned out to be the story of the match as the Filipino-Spanish defender announced Friday to call time on his professional career that started in Malaga, Spain.

Guirado, 35, quit the national team after the Azkals’ 3-2 win over North Korea last March, but injuries and a longing to be  with his wife and two children in Spain led to his decision to prematurely end his tenure with Ceres.

“I will always treasure my time playing in the Philippines, but at this point, there are more important things than football and for me,” said Guirado who last year helped lead Ceres to the UFL title that also secured an AFC Cup berth for the Bacolod-based club.

“The players were motivated to give Juani a victory before he leaves,” said Ceres coach Ali Go. “We understand his decision.”

Later, Loyola Meralco, with talisman Phil Younghusband pulling the strings on attack, vaulted to fifth in the table after dumping Green Archers United, 4-0.

Agila nailed its first win of the season at the expense of undermanned Laos, 1-0.