Ceres targets AFC stint vs Singapore

Ceres Negros guns for its third straight appearance in the knockout stages of the AFC Cup tonight as it hosts Home United of Singapore at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod.

Undefeated in Group F and on top of the table with 13 points, the Busmen only need a draw in the 6 p.m. encounter with second-running Home (10 points) to advance to the Asean zone semifinal anew.

Still Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic and midfielder Stephan Schrock said they will go all out to end the group stage with a bang and solidify their entry into the two-legged Asean zone semifinals.

“I think we really had an excellent group stage and we have the opportunity to make it perfect,” said Vidakovic, whose team racked up four wins and a draw in its first five group assignments. “We’ll try and give everything tomorrow to close the group stage and I think this is enough motivation for us.”

The Busmen seek to continue an impressive run in second-tier international club tourney in Asia.

In 2016, the Bacolod booters reached the Round-of-16 under the old format, bombing out after a 0-1 loss to South China AA in added extra time. Last year, under the new format, the Busmen hurdled the opening Asean zone semifinals then beat Home United for the Asean zone title over two legs, 3-2, to progress to the Inter-zone semis, where they yielded a 1-5 loss on aggregate to Istiktol.

“We have another historic game in our hands. I think it’s for granted that a team like Ceres advances three times to the semifinal or round-of-16. We’re happy and we’re looking forward to win the group and advance to the semifinals,” said Schrock.

Meanwhile, Global Cebu FC looks to end its campaign in Group G on a bright note as it takes Bali United over at Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in the Indonesian island.

The Cebu-based squad had assembled only five points in the group and it could use a morale-boosting win before exiting the bootfest.