Ceres sets high goal in AFC tourney

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine champion Ceres Negros FC sets out to repeat its miracle run in 2018 as it tries to go deep into the coming AFC Champions League qualifiers.

The Busmen reached as far as the third round of the qualifying phase two years ago and the goal is to match if not surpass this performance in the 2020 edition of Asia’s top-tier international club football competition.

Ceres takes the first of three steps in their bid to clinch a historic spot in the ACL’s main tournament on Tuesday with a Round 1 assignnent against Shan United of Myanmar at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“This is our first game after a long break but we’re all eager, we’re all healthy, all fit to play at the highest level in Asia,” Ceres midfielder Stephan Schrock said during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Amelie Hotel- Manila.

“Two years ago we made a miracle run and got into the third round. Let’s see, maybe this year, we can surprise our opponents in the first two games (and duplicate the feat),” added Schrock, who joined coach Risto Vidakovic and teammates Bienve Maranon, Arnie Pasinabo, Mark Hartmann, Pika Mineghishi, Josh Grommen and Arnie Pasinabo in the session.