Ceres rips Global Cebu, gains maiden PFL crown

MANILA, Philippines — Ceres Negros FC put the finishing touches to its history-making run this season by clinching the maiden Philippines Football League (PFL) crown Saturday night at the expense of Visayas rival Global Cebu FC at Panaad Stadium.

With hat trick-scoring Iain Ramsay at the tip of attack, the Busmen waylaid their counterparts from Cebu, 4-1, to romp off with the national diadem that served as icing on the cake on a year highlighted by their historic Asean zone triumph in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup a few months back.

“It’s been a lot of hard work to get to this stage,” said Ramsay, whose team accomplished the feat without suspended coach Risto Vidakovic. “We’ve had a lot of success in the AFC Cup and winning the PFL final just caps it off.”

As PFL champs, the Busmen grabbed the lone slot for the Philippines in the Preliminary Stage of next year’s AFC Champions League, the top-flight club competition in Asia. The Busmen are set to face Myanmar National League titlists San United in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers on Jan. 16.

Ramsay was the biggest thorn in Global’s side and started things off for Ceres by setting up Bienvenido Maranon’s fourth minute opener before he himself struck thrice to virtually put the match beyond Cebu’s reach.

The Fil-Aussie got his first in the 20th minute, making good on a feed by Stephan Shrock to double Ceres lead to the delight of its home fans.

He was again on target seven minutes later, striking off a Junior Munoz assist to widen the gap at 3-nil. 

The halftime break didn’t slow down Ramsay as he fired his third off a delivery from Patrick Reichelt at the 61st to seal it.

Ceres couldn’t complete a shutout, though as Darryl Roberts scored a consolation goal two minutes from time for the People’s Club, who settled for the silver and grabbed a place in the AFC Cup.