Villaflor: Busmen near AFC Cup knockout stage

HERE’S a confession: I envy the Bacolodnons for having club of their own that actually plays home games in their own stadium. (If that sounds like common sense, well you haven’t heard about that club called Global Cebu FC, which plays “home” games in Manila. Long, complicated story.) As a Cebuano, I’ll support Global Cebu by default, unless another homegrown club with Cebuano players joins, by a long shot, the Philippines Football League. On the other hand, I have no issues cheering Ceres Negros FC, though, since -- well here’s another revelation -- my biological parents were Negrense, from the eastern side.

Since the national club scene is only in its infancy, club support these days isn’t that well entrenched, but I do hope the day comes that rootedness and community would truly define the country’s club system.

For now, fan support of whatever nature is most welcome for the PFL clubs. Further, such fan support can extend to any club that carries the Philippine flag in matches abroad. It is essential that the PFL is consistently well-represented in the international arena, and this time courtesy of Ceres-Negros FC, which has gone from strength to strength in its AFC Cup campaign.

More Filino football fans should follow the PFL champions as it hopes to wrap up its group stage campaign in Bacolod tonight at 6 p.m. against Singapore’s Home United.

The last time the two clubs met in Singapore in February, Ceres survived with a 1-1 draw, thanks to a late equalizer. Since then, Ceres has topped Group F with 13 points, winning all matches except the draw with Home United, which is at second place with 10 points.

Ceres needs only a draw at Panaad stadium tonight to advance as Group F winners to the knockout stage, under the Asean Zonal semi-finals bracket.

The club is simply on fire right now. What makes Ceres even more dangerous is that its attacking arsenal is pretty impressive, led by the tournament’s topscorer Bienvenido Marañón from Spain, who has accumulated seven goals in five matches by far. The club’s biggest revelation, though, is Japanese striker Takumi Uesato who has already netted four goals in the tournament, even if he just joined the club last January.

With a turbo-charged midfield and reliable defense, Ceres-Negros FC is ready to shift gears and continue its impressive run in the tournament. But first, they must settle tonight’s business with the visitors, preferably with a decisive win.

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