BR REVIEW
ISSUE 3 FEBRUARY 2018
BUSMEN
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF CERES-NEGROS FC www.ceresfootball.com
GIANT KILLERS 1-ON-1WITH
KEVIN INGRESO
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
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am taking this opportunity to express gratitude to everyone involved with Ceres-Negros FC from the players, staff and administration as well as the Local Organizing Committee as we look ahead to the challenges the year 2018 brings to the club. Along with these challenges are opportunities to improve and succeed. Last season was a banner year for the club to say the least. The AFC Cup Asean zone championship and the Philippines Football League trophy are both historic achievements for Ceres-Negros. But the club also holds the AFC Cup Fair Play award with similar significance as it represents the conduct of the club on and off the pitch and the behavior of home supporters at Panaad Stadium. The achievements of the club would not be possible without the support of Negrenses, particularly our government officials led by Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Maranon and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and of course, Ultras Ceres.
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Once again, we will need everyone’s unwavering support this season as we try to overcome the challenges of winning in the continental stage and in the domestic front. It will be tough, but as proven in the past, the club can achieve great things with your support.
The year 2018 couldn’t have started any better for the club. After presenting our new signings for the season - Amani Aguinaldo, Toni Doblas, Takumi Uesato, Sean Kane and Mike Ott - whom I would like to personally welcome to our club, we embarked on our first AFC Champions League campaign and exceeded expectations by reaching the playoff round against Tianjin Quanjian of the Chinese Super League. The playoff match against Tianjin was made possible by our upset win over Australia’s three-time champion Brisbane Roar and the victory in Yangon against Shan United. Although we ultimately fell short against Tianjin, I can’t help but be proud of our team for representing the club, the province and the country the best way it can in the tournament. We were able to showcase our brand of football against some of the strongest clubs in the continent. We will be taking the lessons from the defeat and use that experience as we compete in the top competition in Asia. But before we can get ahead of ourselves, our focus is now qualifying for the knockout stages of the AFC Cup and winning the PFL league competition which will allow us to book a slot in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League again. I am also taking this opportunity to thank the provincial government for all its help with the hosting of AFC Cup and PFL matches - being the ones in charge of the management of the Panaad Stadium, which now has a full compliment of seats with backrest in its grandstand area. Once again, we will need everyone’s unwavering support this season as we try to overcome the challenges of winning in the continental stage and in the domestic front. It will be tough, but as proven in the past, the club can achieve great things with your support. Thank you very much.
LEO REY YANSON
CERES-NEGROS FC CHAIRMAN
GIANT KILLERS
THE BUSMEN EMBARK ON A HISTORIC RUN IN THE AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The Busmen’s stunning win over Brisbane Roar sent shockwaves, not just in Asia, but in world football with the Fifa featuring the victory on its website. PAUL SMITH PHOTOS
he last three weeks of January 2018 will go down as one of the most memorable for Ceres-Negros and its T supporters. From Yangon to Tianjin, the Busmen captured the imagination of Filipino football fans as they went in a historic run in the AFC Champions League. Although they ultimately fell short in the final phase of
qualification, there was plenty of reason to celebrate the Busmen’s feat as they went toe-to-toe with some of the continent’s strongest teams and put up a brave and gallant stand. The Busmen Review revisits th-ose three magical weeks of January 2018. CERES 4-3 SHAN UNITED (1-1 AET) Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Less than a month removed from its historic Philippines Football League triumph, Ceres Negros FC buckled down to work in early January. The season started earlier than usual with an important, bigger challenge ahead: The AFC Champions League preliminary stage. This was unchartered territory for the Busmen, but an opportunity they relished. On their own, the Busmen geared up with Stephan Schrock, the talisman, already posting videos on his social media account of his workout routines during the holiday break. Returning to training in Jan. 8, coach Risto Vidakovic took on the challenge of whipping the Busmen into shape a week before the duel against Myanmar league champions Shan United in Yangon. Vidakovic also had to integrate new signings like Toni Doblas, Sean Kane, Mike Ott and Takumi Uesato in the side. Amani Aguinaldo remained sidelined by a knee injury.
Carlie de Murga’s leadership proves key to Ceres’ run in the AFC Champions League.
Thanks to a deflected strike from Schrock, Ceres took the lead in extra time, before Patrick Asare equalized for the hosts at Thuwunna Stadium to send the match into a shootout, where Carlie De Murga, Stephan Schrock, Mike Ott and Bienvenido Maranon all found the back of the net. The hosts missed two penalties, allowing the Busmen to punch their ticket to the second round against Brisbane Roar of Australia. “It was a tough game, we weren’t ready to play 120 minutes because we only had four training sessions before the game but everytime we wear this jersey, we represent Ceres, we represent Bacolod, we represent the Philippines, so we have to give our best,” said Ceres skipper Carlie De Murga. Kane proved solid in his debut after coming in the second half for Junior Munoz, while Patrick Reichelt continued his progress from a long-term injury.
LOUD AND PROUD.
CERES 3-2 BRISBANE ROAR Queensland Sport and Athletic Stadium Kevin Ingreso knew the team would be more than equal to the challenge. Pulling the strings at midfield, he saw his teammates play with a spring in their step. Closing down opponents aggressively and sprinting to get on the end of long balls, the Busmen were in the zone. They had to be. Playing on enemy ground against the three-time Australia League champions and a regular in the AFC Champions League, the Busmen faced their toughest challenge yet. Brisbane Roar took the lead just after the half hour mark, but Bienvenido Maranon grabbed an equalizer just before half-time, setting the stage for one of the biggest upsets in Asia’s top-tier club competition. Cheered on by a small group of supporters at Queensland Sports and Athletic Club, the Busmen took the lead through Maranon, who finished off a quick counter attack started by Carlie de Murga that also involved new signing Mike Ott. Growing in confidence, the Busmen grabbed a third courtesy of Omid Nazari from a corner kick with 15 minutes remaining and while Roar grabbed a second goal, there was no stopping the Busmen from slaying one of the giants of Australian football. The stunning victory sent shockwaves in world football, but for the Bacolod-based club, the triumph is the reward for the commitment and work put in by the players the past few years in an effort to enhance the country’s reputation in Asia. The result was described by Australian pundits as “embarrassing” for the third place team of the A-League last season, prompting the club to apologize for its performance. But for Ceres, the rise has been remarkable considering that the club was just formed in 2012 and played in the now defunct AFC President’s Cup where it failed to progress past the group stage. “We absolutely deserve the win, and we as a team are so proud of this achievement,” said Schrock. “This is the biggest success for Philippine club history, and I think also the biggest upset in the history of Australian football.” Schrock said the Busmen never wavered in their belief that they can
COMPOSED. FilipinosFernando based in Queensland Rodriguez calmly convertsmake the presence JDT felt, penalty their that stunned cheering on the Busmen against Brisbane Roar. .
create a stir in the tournament. “I knew that we can beat Brisbane since the day we became champions (in the PFL),” said Schrock. CERES NEGROS 0-2 TIANJIN QUANJIAN Tianjin Olympic Stadium
in this club,” he said. “Obviously, its very difficult for us to play these games in high level when you don’t really have a preseason and preparations especially if you happen to be arriving the day of the game.” Porteria said their experience in the Champions League will serve them well in future competitions.
A battling performance from Ceres-Negros wasn’t enough to overcome a star-studded Tianjin Quianjian side as the Busmen absorbed a 0-2 and bounced out of the Champions League. IIt was always going to be a daunting task for Ceres with Tianjin boasting of high profile players like Axel Witsel from Belgium and Alexander Pato from Brazil.
“They (Tianjin) had three very high level players with Modeste, Pato, and Witsel. Overall, I think this is great for Philippine football and we can be proud of ourselves and come out of this with our heads held high. It is something that is bigger than we can imagine and people all around Asia can look at us and say that this team is pretty damn good.” BR
Arriving just 12 hours before kickoff in the city just outside the capital Beijing due to visa issues, the Busmen showed no fear against the Chinese powerhouse and even had the match’s first big chance courtesy of Schrock, before French striker Anthony Modeste found the back of the net twice. The goals, the conditions and the atmosphee hardly put a dent on the Busmen’s confidence as they pressed on in search for a goal. Battling Belgian star Axel Witsel at midfield, Schrock hardly looked out of place with his pace and quality standing out in a match controlled by Tianjin. Even after seeing the end of the club’s fairytale run in the competition, OJ Porteria said he was proud of the Busmen’s performance. “I’m very proud of the team, very proud of everyone that’s involved
Omid Nazari (left) bravely battles Tianjin’s star striker Anthony Modeste.
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AFC CUP GROUP F
FAMILIAR FOES FOR CERES eres-Negros starts its defense C of the AFC Cup Asean zonal championship on Feb. 13 when it
Super Herrera and Ceres-Negros will meet Shan United of Myanmar twice in Group F.
hosts Boeung Ket Angkor of Cambodia in Group F at Panaad Stadium. The Busmen are hard-pressed to top the group to ensure qualification into the knockout round of the competition. But the group is filled with tough opposition that includes Asean zone finalist Home United of Singapore. Ceres and Home United battled to a memorable two-legged final last year won by the Busmen, 3-2, on aggregate. Shan United of Myanmar is the other team in the group. The Busmen are also familiar with the Burmese champions, having played against them in the opening round of AFC Champions League preliminaries. The Busmen Review takes a look at the Busmen’s opponents in Group F.
Home United (SINGAPORE) With Albirex Niigata (S) winning the S.League, Home United earned a spot in the AFC Cup after finishing third. The Protectors reached the inaugural AFC Cup semi-finals in 2004 and have made it to the quarter-finals on two other occasions. Home lost to Ceres Negros in the finals last year, but the Singaporeans are determined to get their payback this season. How they qualified: S.League 3rd place Past AFC Cups: 2004 – Semi-finals; 2005 – Quarter-finals; 2006 – Group Stage; 2008 – Quarter-finals; 2009 – Round of 16; 2012 – Round of 16; 2014 – Group Stage; 2017 – ASEAN Zonal Final Shan United FC (MYANMAR)
Stephan Schrock targets AFC Cup glory for the Busmen.
Shan United secured a spot in the AFC Champions League preliminary phase by winning the Myanmar National League for the first time in the club’s history in a highly successful season that
also saw them lift the General Aung San Shield. But even with home advantage in the preliminary phase of the Champions League against Ceres, the Burmese league winners were pipped by Ceres. It will be the first appearance for Shan United in the AFC Cup. How they qualified: Myanmar National League champions Boeung Ket FC (CAMBODIA) Boeung Ket FC advanced to the group stage in their debut appearance in the AFC Cup last year, seeing off Lao Toyota FC in the play-offs to advance to the main competition, where they finished third in their group. After retaining their Cambodian league title, they repeated that feat last month thanks to a narrow 4-3 aggregate success over their Laotian rivals. How they qualified: 2017 Cambodian League champions Past AFC Cups: 2017 – Group Stage
idfielder Kevin Ingreso has spent the past couple of seasons with CeresNegros FC, emerging as one of its key players as the club went on a historic run in 2017 when it won the AFC Cup Asean zone championship and the Philippines Football League.
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Born and raised in Hamburg, Germany to a German mother and a Filipino father, the 25-year-old Ingreso has made his presence felt not just for the Busmen but also for the national team, earning 18 caps since 2015. Ingreso sits down with Busmen Review to share his thoughts on the challenges that lie ahead for the club this season. How did you start your football? Growing up in Hamburg, my parents (Ricky and Berrita) introduced me to football. At six years-old, they let me join TSV Wandestetal and I was in the club for a little over three years. My parents saw my potential and continued supporting me. I went on to Hamburg FSV, where I signed a professional contract and played in their second team. It was a huge honor to join Hamburg since I grew up there. I joined Ceres in 2015. The ambition and vision of the club convinced me to move to the Philippines and continue my career here.
we’re doing, especially after such a good run in the AFC Champions League. You struggled with injuries in 2015 when you joined the club, how did you manage to turn the setback into a successful career so far with Ceres? It was a really hard time for me. I started playing left back, which wasn’t my position. I had a lot of personal problems and all those things and I was out for 4 months with an MCL injury. It wasn’t easy for me not to play in the position that I preferred. And when coach Risto (Vidakovic) came in, he asked me what position I wanted to play and I said central midfield. He challenged me to convince him that I can play there. I think I was able to do that.
last year and we are always excited to play in Bacolod whether its AFC Cup and PFL. We like to be in Bacolod where we can focus on football and be with teammates all the time. It gives us a fresh mind. Can you single out a memorable experience with supporters of the club? Wow, the fans in Bacolod are amazing. Sometimes, they wait in Ayala when we do groceries or at the SM Mall just for pictures. They notice us here and we’re very grateful for that because we know football is not that big in the Philippines. We’re really enjoying the experience. BR
How does it feel representing the club and the people of Bacolod and Negros? We are always excited everytime we step on the pitch. We want to make people proud of us especially when we play at Panaad. It was pretty good
How would you describe the previous season for the club? Pretty good. The last year we were so successful, it was such a great year for us. It’s not easy to do the same this year. Everybody wants to beat us. It will be harder for us. But we want to continue what
PLAYER PROFILE
1-ON-1 WITH
KEVIN
INGRESO
Age | 25 Position | Central Midfield Jersey Number | 6 Clubs | Hamburger SV II VfR Neumunster SV Drochtersen/Assel Ceres-Negros
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