PFF-Smart national football tiff fires off Thursday

Matches Thursday (Rizal Memorial Stadium)

4 p.m. – Loyola Meralco FC vs Laos FC

7 p.m. – Ceres La Salle FC vs Kaya FC

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s top clubs, led by reigning two-time champion Ceres La Salle FC of Negros Occidental, kick off their dispute for football supremacy Thursday in the PFF-Smart National Club Championship at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Ceres, which scored a coup by signing up Azkals stalwart Martin Steuble recently, launches its three-peat bid against Kaya FC in the 7 p.m. main game of an opening double-header also pitting Loyola Meralco Sparks against Laos FC of Leyte in the first encounter at 4 p.m.

The Ceres booters have been drawn into Group A, which many considered as the “Group of Death” in the Jan. 22-31 tourney with fellow United Football League teams in tow. Two-time runner-up Global FC banners Group B that includes Stallion FC of Iloilo, Erco-Bro FC of Cebu and M’Lang FC of North Cotabato.

‘I think it’s a tough group and we look forward to it,” said Ceres coach Ali Go after Wednesday’s official draw at the PFF House of Football. “Anyone can win this group. I you don’t play 100 percent and you don’t get lucky, you may end up fourth. So we have to play 200 percent.”

Ceres, which already boasts of a star-studded lineup that includes nationals Juani Guirado, Patrick Reichelt, and Manny Ott, tabbed Fil-Swiss Steuble, although Go said the club will “still decide at the last minute” whether or not to send him to action at once.

Meanwhile, Global FC may be in a relatively easier group, with two non-UFL teams from the provinces around, but coach Leigh Manson cautioned against complacency.

 “For us, the grouping has been possibly a little kinder but as a coach, it will be an interesting challenge to face two teams we don’t normally face. We can’t be complacent. We have to treat each club with respect. We’ll prepare for the Stallion game as we would the other clubs,” said Manson, whose wards will start their campaign on Friday yet against Erco.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the crossover semis slated Jan. 29 with the victors contesting the crown on Jan. 31 and the losing semifinalists battling for third place the same day.

The tournament is organized for the fourth year by the PFF and Smart Communications, Inc. and will stake P150,000 for the champion, according to PFF general secretary Edwin Gastanes and Smart Sports marketing senior manager Epok Quimpo.

 Runner-up stands to get P75,000, the third-placer P50,000 and the fourth-placer P25,000.

“Our chairman, Manny V. Pangilinan, has directed us to go around the country to find and develop local talents who can represent the Philippines in international competitions. Our collaboration with the PFF helps us achieve that,” Quimpo said.