Running on tight schedule, Ceres trips Davao to keep lead

There was an understandable tinge of lament in the voice of Ceres-Negros coach Risto Vidakovic, as he discussed his team’s compressed schedule.

“It’s a very big risk for injuries,” he said. “Somebody has to think about that.”

The way the Busmen played, though, Wednesday night, seemed to belie concerns about the team’s precarious calendar.

Reasserting its mastery of the Davao Aguilas, Ceres-Negros came from behind to forge a 2-1 victory that also firmed up its hold of top spot in the Philippines Football League at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

“The players gave everything and were really professionals,” Vidakovic said. “I’m very proud of them.”

Playing their fifth match in two weeks, the defending champions Busmen dug deep and were rewarded with goals from Carlie De Murga and Patrick Reichelt, after James Younghusband put Davao in front 15 minutes into the match.

“Overall the whole team showed character,” Reichelt said. “Especially now with a tight schedule, it’s very hard. It took us ten minutes to fully show our focus. In the end, it was a well deserved win at home.”

The Busmen jacked up their tally to 28 points from 11 matches, six points ahead of Kaya Iloilo, which hosts Ceres on Saturday at Iloilo Sports Complex.