BR REVIEW
BUSMEN
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF CERES-NEGROS FC
Q&A:
COACH RISTO
GAME ON! WITH A PLACE IN THE AFC CUP BOOKED, CERES GUNS FOR A HISTORIC PFL TITLE
ISSUE 2 DECEMBER 2017
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MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR pdan naton liwat ang Ceres Negros Football Club sa ila Philippines U Football League finals batok sa Global Cebu Football Club sa Sabado, December 16, sa Panaad Stadium. Kit-anay kita sa Panaad.
GOV. ALFREDO G. MARANON, JR.
MESSAGE FROM THE VICE GOVERNOR y congratulations to Ceres Negros FC for again earning a spot in the M AFC Cup. And rest assured of the support of Negrenses this weekend as you play Global Cebu FC for the PFL Championship.
VICE GOV. EUGENIO JOSE “BONG” LACSON
MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MAYOR t is a singular honor to greet the football clubs of Global Cebu and Ceres I Negros as they converge in Bacolod to compete in the final leg of a most exciting, action-packed season. Bacolod is once more fortunate to be the venue of the sport, and we extend our warm hospitality to all the players, coaches, sports officials and guests. Welcome to the City of Smiles. To the Ceres Negros Football Club, our home team, we have followed your competitions this past year. Know that we are proud of the force that you have become as you demonstrate a sporting spirit that is grounded on integrity and respect. Continue to inspire us with these qualities. It is my privilege to invite our people of Bacolod and all football fans in the province to watch another historic game and show our support. Mabuhay!
ATTY. EVELIO “BING” LEONARDIA
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
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The long season in the PFL was tough on everyone involved in the club as it meant an extended campaign unlike in previous years. The travel and the logistical needs required extra attention, but with the support of our fans, we soldier on as we hope to win one final game at Panaad before the year ends.
he year that is about to end has been a fulfilling one for Ceres-Negros FC.
From our surprising run to the AFC Cup Asean zonal championship and eventually to the AFC inter-zone semifinals, this was a year where the club established many firsts. With matches in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Tajikistan, the club carried the country’s colors with pride. It has always been part of the mission of the club to represent Bacolod City and Negros Occidental and the Philippines in the international stage. There were shining moments and heartbreaks along the way and we are glad to have our fantastic supporters experience these with us, whether it was at Panaad Stadium or in faraway Dushanbe, Tajikistan. These international club matches put a spotlight on our city and the brand of football we want to showcase: Quick, slick, free-flowing, exciting and entertaining. Competing in many fronts made it a challenging year for the club. We were not fortunate enough to make a deep run in the 2017 Singapore Cup, this time, but if its any consolation, the loss helped in molding the club into what it is today. Back at home, we’ve already accomplished one of our goals in the inaugural Philippines Football League season, having qualified to the AFC Cup next year where we will try to defend that Asean zonal championship. Returning to the AFC Cup was not an easy task. Squeezing in 28 matches amidst a tough continental competition was a huge challenge in itself, but somehow, the club has gotten the job done and credit must go to the players, coaching staff and the management team. Another big challenge awaits in a few months as the 2018 season begins. The long season in the PFL was tough on everyone involved in the club as it meant an extended campaign, unlike in previous years. The travel and the logistical needs required extra attention, but with the support of our fans, we soldier on as we hope to win one final game at Panaad before the year ends. The PFL remains in its infancy and there is plenty of work ahead for the league to become sustainable. May we never waver in our support for the league and Philippine football. We cannot ask for a better way to end the year than having the first ever Philippines Football League finals at Panaad Stadium. Throughout the year, the Local Organizing Committee has pulled out all the stops in ensuring that the pitch is well-maintained and every match runs smoothly down to the small details. We look forward to playing against Global Cebu, a club that has also built a winning tradition in the Philippines in a historic match for the PFL trophy. Like Global, we are also in a relentless quest for glory and recognition. As the football season is about to close, we take the opportunity to express our gratitude to the Bacolod City Government, the Negros Occidental Provincial Government, Ultras Ceres and our families and friends and those who have in one way or another supported us in our 2017 campaign. Our success is also your success. We find inspiration in your support. Happy Holidays from the Ceres-Negros FC family.
LEO REY YANSON
CERES-NEGROS FC CHAIRMAN
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CHASING
HISTORY BATTLE-WEARY BUSMEN ROLL TO FIRST PFL FINAL
Midfielder Iain Ramsay goes on the attack against JPV Marikina in their rain-soaked duel early in the season at Panaad Stadium. PHOTOS BY STEPHEN TAN
he season has been unlike any other in the existence of Ceres-Negros. An extended campaign in the AFC Cup netted the first ever Asean zonal championship. But it also meant that the Busmen were left with plenty of catching up to do in the Philippines Football League, which was in full swing at around the time Ceres-Negros was also making its mark in the AFC Cup. Already assured of an AFC Cup spot, the Busmen are out to cap the year with the first PFL trophy against a worthy foe in Global Cebu. We look back at Ceres-Negros’ impressive run to the PFL finals.
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The Regular Season The early part of the season saw mixed results for the Busmen. The Negros squad’s focus was on making a deep run in the AFC Cup. Fresh from qualification to the knockout stage after winning over Tampines Rovers in Singapore, the Busmen opened their season with a 1-1 draw against Kaya Makati. The team played only its second match in the league a month later when it hosted rival Global Cebu in their first home match in Bacolod City where they prevailed, 1-0. They were given a rude awakening in their
Stephan Schrock celebrates his stellar strike against Global Cebu.
third league match weeks later after succumbing to a 2-1 loss versus JPV Marikina just after the June FIFA break. With a gap in the AFC Cup, Ceres-Negros would go on to play seven league games which were highlighted by a slim 0-1 away loss in Cebu and a 7-0 victory over erstwhile league leaders FC Meralco Manila.
COMPOSED. Fernando Rodriguez calmly converts the penalty that stunned JDT
Days removed from being the crowned the ASEAN champions of the AFC Cup, the Busmen overcame Kaya Makati, before absorbing a stunning 1-2 loss to Meralco at Panaad, which remains their only home loss of the season so far. After earning four points in two away games versus Davao, Ceres would go on a four game stretch at home with the battle for the final four heating up. Stephan Schrock rescued the team with a scintillating strike against Global at home. Ceres-Negros played its most controversial match with Kaya in mid-October with the 10-man squad earning a hardfought 3-2 victory over the Makati side. An equally interesting match was played days later when JPV Marikina fought to a 2-2 draw at Panaad, which actually booked the Busmen’s place in the Finals Series. With qualification already in the bag, the Busmen strolled through their remaining games against Meralco and Global, which handed them a 2-0 loss in their final regular season match. The Busmen thus finished the
Bienvenido Maranon scores with his head in the semifinals against Kaya Makati for his 21st goal of the season.
season in second spot behind Meralco Manila, which meant that they face Kaya in the semifinals.
crossbar, the Busmen celebrated a Schrocky outside-the-boot strike in stoppage time.
The Semifinals Ceres-Negros travelled to Makati for the first leg, where Schrock produced a touch of magic to give the Busmen the edge. Just minutes after watching Robert Lopez Mendy get denied by the
Kaya vowed a comeback at Panaad, but it was the Busmen who took the lead in the 31st minute thanks to a well-placed header from Bienvenido Maranon. The goal calmed the nerves of the home supporters, but the visitors grabbed a lifeline through Woody Ugarte, who scored just before halftime. After dodging a couple of bullets none bigger than the chance from Jordan Mintah that rolled just wide off Roland Muller’s post, another piece of quality from Iain Ramsay finally put the outcome beyond doubt for Ceres. Finding himself at almost the same spot where he struck the opening goal against Tampines Rovers in the AFC Cup, Ramsay picked up a weak clearance and chipped the ball towards goal with his weaker foot. The ball sailed gracefully over a retreating keeper and dipped just in time under the bar, sparking wild celebrations. With the 3-1 aggregate win, Ceres punched its ticket back to the AFC Cup and moved into the finals of the PFL. BR
The Busmen whop it up after clinching a PFL finals spot and an AFC Cup berth.
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A FITTING FINALE hey’ve fought to epic battles in recent seasons, but this is one clash that each team will relish just a bit more. It’s Ceres-Negros going up against Global-Cebu in an all-Visayan affair for the Philippines Football League crown on December 16 at Panaad Stadium.
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Both squads have played tight matches in the league this year with each team owning two victories each. Fierce rivals even before the Philippines Football League started, Global-Ceres encounters were always marked by drama, intrigue and quality goals over the past few years. Negros drew first blood this season thanks to a late winner from Jeffrey Christiaens at home last June 3 in Stephan Schrock’s season debut for the Busmen. Cebu returned the favor at Cebu City Sports Center a month later with a 1-0 result after a Matthew Hartmann goal in the second half. Schrock scored a spectacular winner in Bacolod last September, while Ceres yielded a 0-2 result in the final
P F L M AT C H U P S
in the final.
Nov 28, 2017 Cebu City Sports Center Global Cebu 2-0 Ceres Negros Sept 24, 2017 Panaad Stadium Ceres Negros 1-0 Global Cebu
Against Kaya Makati, Ceres scored a late winner in injury time courtesy of Schrock in the first leg. Bienvenido Maranon put the home squad ahead in the second leg with a firm header but Woody Ugarte’s close range strike kept Kaya in the contest.
July 5, 2017 Cebu City Sports Center Global Cebu 1-0 Ceres Negros
Iain Ramsay put the Busmen through the final with a past Ref Cuaresma for the winner 12 minutes from time.
June 3, 2017 Panaad Stadium Ceres Negros 1-0 Global Cebu
The two rival clubs have endured long campaigns with Ceres going all the way to the inter zone semifinals of the AFC Cup. Global reached the Asean zonal semifinals of the AFC Cup as well as the final of the Singapore Cup.
matchup in Cebu, confirming a second place finish in he regular season. Global progressed to the final after a 3-2 aggregate win over top seed Meralco Manila. The Cebu squad got two late goals from Wesley dos Santos and Pika Minegishi to overcome a one goal deficit in the first leg. A 1-1 draw in the second leg thanks to a late Rufo Sanchez equalizer was enough to book a place
Global and Ceres have met twice in the final twice in different competitions in recent years. Ceres-La Salle clinched the UFL FA League Cup with a 1-0 win in 2014. Global FC ruled the 2016 UFL Cup Final at the expense of Ceres, 3-1. The winner of the match will play for an AFC Champions League berth. BR
eres-Negros FC coach Risto Vidakovic arrived in the Philippines more than a year ago with very little knowledge of the game in this part of the world. His job was to bring a talented squad to the next level after a subpar season in 2016. The Busmen Review talks to the Spanish mentor on his time with the club and the challenge of facing Global Cebu in the PFL final.
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What were your impressions on the squad when you arrived?
RISTO VIDAKOVIC
UEFA PRO (2006) Former player of Red Star Belgrade, Real Betis and Osasuna. Former National team player of Yugoslavia 91-98 Former Coach of Cadiz, Ecija, and Real Betis B in the Spanish second division
The first thing when I saw the team was that it was not together. So the first thing I did was to put them together in a restaurant, try to bring them together, and make them a team. All the time, I’m here I’m trying to make a family of the team. I think now there is now a big difference since I came here. They have only one goal and they are working altogether to have amgood atmosphere. What were the goals of the team comng into this 2017 season? This season, our goal was to advance from the group stage of the AFC Cup and of course, for a club like Ceres, its also to win the league. We’ve almost reached both now so we have to try to give everything on Saturday to win the league. What were the unique challenges with the team playing in different tournaments this year? It was not easy, especially the schedule of the PFL after playing in the AFC Cup. We played until September for the AFC Cup and there was not so much time to play the rest of the re-scheduled games. We played every three days and its not easy to maintain the same level because you cannot train. How hard was it for the team to reach the PFL Final? It was a stressful game against Kaya. You make history in the AFC Cup but your PFL season was depending on one game. Kaya, especially in the second game, had nothing to lose so they came here to try to surprise us and the big pressure was on the team. But we stayed together and everyone gave 100 percent. For me, that’s what I’m proud of because to put the team together, bring it as one, and to fight for each other means that there’s more than one title you can win. With a good chunk of the pressure off after AFC Cup qualification, do you think it will have positive effect in playing Global in the final? I think we can make a good match on Saturday. Global is also a good team. I think were equal at that moment and us playing at home is the only advantage we have. We are playing in front of our home crowd and I think the players will give everything to win. BR
1-ON-1 WITH
COACH
RISTO /7
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It’s time to say thank you for all your support . Bacolod, you are amazing. You pushed us forward. You are the 12th man on the field and we are where we belong on December 16. Let’s rock it one more time for this year.
ROLAND MULLER Goalkeeper