BROTHERS Manny and Mike Ott came up with hits for Ceres Negros as they opened their title-retention bid in the Philippines Football League 2-1 over Kaya Iloilo at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
Trailing 1-0 following a conversion from Jordan Mintah for Kaya, Manny and Mike came up with back-to-back goals to snatch the advantage for Ceres on Wednesday night, in the first of the five meetings between the regional rivals.
âKaya is a very good team. Itâs not easy. We want to play our football, we want to win. Sometimes itâs one goal, sometimes more. It depends on how we start. Weâre happy that we got the win,â Mike said.
Ceres Negros had plenty of shots on the goal courtesy of Patrick Reichelt, Jose Porteria and Takumi Uesato but none produced a point. Kaya also had a chance but Miguel Tantonâs free kick was foiled by Ceres Negros keeper Toni Doblas.
The Busmen got more chances early in the second half from Reichelt and Bienvenido Marañon but their attempts were well defended. Mintah then put Kaya Iloilo ahead with a conversion in the 61st minute.
Kaya Iloilo had a chance to widen the lead but its attempt in the 74th minute was blocked by Doblas. Ceres Negros seized the opportunity with Marañon linking with Manny for the equalizer in the 75th minute.
Kaya Iloilo had a chance to regain the lead in the 81st minute but Robert Lopez Mendyâs attempt was foiled by Doblas. Ceres Negros clinched the edge for good in the 85th minute on a pass by Marañon to Mike for an inside hit.
âItâs a heartbreaking result again,â said Kaya Iloilo mentor Noel Marcaida. âIf we want to move forward in this league and beat Ceres, we need to convert the chances that we get.â/PN
