Ceres is first PFL champion
Iain Ramsay scored a hat trick in a fitting farewell performance as Ceres-Negros crushed archrival Global-Cebu, 4-1, Saturday night to become the inaugural champion of the Philippines Football League at the rain-soaked Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
Ramsay put on a scoring spree after setting up Bienvenido Maranon's opening goal four minutes after kickoff as Ceres took the fight out of Global in the first 30 minutes of the final marred by wet pitch conditions on its way to lifting the title trophy on home soil.
The Fil-Australian midfielder, rumored to play for a Thai club next year, helped the Bacolod-based Busmen cap off their best year since emerging from obscurity into one of the country's premier clubs after claiming the ASEAN zonal crown in the AFC Cup.
Ceres not only captured its fifth trophy in a major local club competition since 2013, it also secured a spot in the qualifiers of the AFC Champions League, needing to win a series of legs to earn the right to face some of Asia's biggest teams.
The Busmen take on Myanmar champion Shan United in the preliminary phase of the Champions League qualifiers.
For the meantime, Ceres will spent the holiday season resting on its laurels.
Ramsay began what turned out to be a onesided final between the two rivals when his cross allowed Maranon to score off Global goalkeeper Patrick Deyto to put Ceres ahead.
He made his second goal in the 20th minute off a pass by midfielder Stephan Schrock before completing the trifecta by tapping in a Junior Munoz cross from a counterattack, sending the home crowd of about 2,500 fans in a frenzy.
Global got plenty of chances even after conceding the opening goal, with Spanish striker Rufo Sanchez seeing his equalizing attempt hit the woodwork.
A consolation goal before stoppage time courtesy of Darryl Roberts but came way too late as Global fell short in completing its Cinderella run after placing fourth in the eliminations and stunning top seed Meralco-Manila in the semis.
It marked the second time in three weeks that Global settled for runnerup honors after losing to Albirex Niigata in the Singapore Cup final. The Cebu outfit, however, is assured of a return trip to next year's AFC Cup.
– JONAS TERRADO