Tough battle up for Ceres Negros

BACOLOD CITY—Ceres Negros aims to move closer to the knockout phase of the AFC Cup as it battles Indonesian powerhouse Persija Jakarta on Wednesday night in Group G at Panaad Stadium here.

The Busmen, the 2017 Asean zone champions, opened their campaign with back-to-back wins over Shan United of Myanmar and Becamex Binh Duong of Vietnam.

But they face a tougher task against Persija, Indonesia’s biggest club, which is second in Group G with four points from two matches.

“It’s an important game because we will be facing one of the biggest clubs in Southeast Asia,” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic. “The team is focused and prepared for this game. We know that a win will help us move closer to the next round.” —CEDELF P. TUPAS