THE race for the top spot as the regular season of the inaugural year of the Philippines Football League (PFL) hits the homestretch further heated up after Ceres-Negros FC maintained its assault on number one with a 6-0 drubbing of league leader FC Meralco Manila on Sunday in Bacolod City.
Currently at second place in the standings of the country’s national football league, the “Busmen,” sporting a 16-3-4 record and 51 points, are now within three points of the “Sparks” (16-6-4) at 54 points with three more extra games to play than the latter.
Fernando Rodriguez scored a hat trick while Bienvenido Maranon added a brace to tow their team to the win with Carlie De Murga accounting for the other goal.
Mr. Maranon opened the scoring for Ceres as he connected off a deflection in the 22nd minute before Mr. De Murga added a second goal for the hosts six minutes later.
Meralco saw itself further in a bind as Mr. Rodriguez started to heat up as the opening half progressed, finding the bottom of the net in a span of seven minutes — in the 30th and 36th minute ± to give Ceres a commanding 4-0 lead by the halftime break.
The visiting side tried to make things happen to start the second half, getting two good chances to score early care of Milan Nikolic and Tahj Minniecon. But the two failed to consummate their chances.
Mr. Rodriguez completed his hat trick in the 54th minute as he fired from the left side.
For good measure, Mr. Maranon scored the final goal of the match in the 67th minute as Ceres cruised to the win thereafter.
Winning coach Risto Vidakovic paid tribute to his players for recognizing well what they were presented with and weaving through them accordingly.
“They pressed high and there was a lot of space in the back. We scored four goals in the first half and it was practically finished already,” said Mr. Vidakovic postgame.
For Meralco, the missed opportunities that it had early in the contest proved to be telling and something it rued after.
“We were in the game in the first 20 minutes. If Curt Dizon or Nikolic scored then it would have be different,” said Meralco coach Aris Caslib after their game.
Just the same, Mr. Caslib said they hope to get their act together in their remaining games to keep the top spot entering the finals series.
Also victorious last Sunday was Stallion Laguna FC, which defeated Davao Aguilas FC, 2-0, in Tagum City.
Gabriele Mascazzini and Fitch Arboleda accounted for the two goals to help Stallion improve to 9-8-11 with 35 points.
The loss, meanwhile, kept Davao with just two wins for the season so far and at 15 points, good for seventh place. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
