CERES La Salle Football Club ruled the 3rd Sagay City Men’s Open Football Championship 2019 after a 3-1 victory over the De La Salle University Green Archers on Thursday at the Sagay National High School Football Field in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
The Norman Fegidero-mentored Ceres La Salle imposed its dominance since the start by surging to a 2-1 first half lead before tightening its defense in the second half for the runaway win.
It was a fitting bounce back for University of St. La Salle-Bacolod-backed Ceres FC after failing to defend its championship last year when it was defeated by North Negros in the gold medal match, 0-2.
On their way to the championship round, Ceres La Salle scored a 2-1 victory over the North Negros squad, while the Green Archers ousted the Bayawan-Negros Oriental, 5-0, in the other semifinals game.
Ceres La Salle was also dominant in the elimination round with lopsided wins over Bayawan-Negros Oriental (6-0), Sagay City FC (2-0), SCLI-San Carlos (1-0) and North Negros (2-1) before losing to the Green Archers, 1-3.
North Negros team, meanwhile, was able to salvage a bronze medal finish in this week-long tournament after a 1-0 victory over the Bayawan-Negros Oriental in the battle-for-third place game.
The event is part of the promotion of football in the province particularly in the northern Negros and as support to the Negros Occidental Football Association (Nofa) goal to strengthen the sports.
The 3rd Sagay Men’s Open Championships is bankrolled by the City Government of Sagay in collaboration with the Provincial Government through the efforts of Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III and Sports chief Benson Fernandez./PN
