Kaya FC–Iloilo Aims to Close Gap on Ceres Negros Iloilo versus Negros, First vs Second. Saturday's Visayas Clasico has the ingredients for a cracking game.

Kaya FC–Iloilo vs Ceres Negros
4pm | Saturday | June 9, 2018
Iloilo Sports Complex

Only one team has defeated the defending champions in the Philippines Football League this season, and on Saturday, Kaya FC–Iloilo gets an opportunity to repeat the feat in front of its home crowd, at the Iloilo Sports Complex. Ceres Negros’ first visit to Iloilo has been highly anticipated in the province, and Saturday’s (June 9) match, deemed a Visayas Clasico, is expected to draw a large crowd despite the rainy weather.

“I hope the weather allows us to play tomorrow, so that Ilonggos can see how the current first and second placed teams play football. It’s going to be a tough one, but surely it’s going to be an exciting one as well. I think Ceres will be looking to bounce back from that loss in their home against us.” said Iloilo head coach Noel Marcaida. “We’re perfect at home. The motivation of the team is to protect our home.”

The match comes at a challenging time for both sides. Kaya FC–Iloilo will once again be without the services of Jordan Mintah (injury), Robert Lopez Mendy (suspension), and Alfred Osei (suspension), while Ceres Negros will be missing Manny Ott (injury), Bienvenido Marañon (injury), and Kevin Ingreso (suspension).

“It’s going to be a very exciting game tomorrow playing against one of the best teams in the Philippines and in South East Asia. Our main concern is about the field. If it’s going to rain a lot, the surface could get quite heavy,” said Marwin Angeles. “Both teams are missing key players, but the other players will want to show up as well. So, I think it’ll be a factor. It will for sure be an aggressive game.”

Ceres Negros won the first meeting between the two sides, 2-1, with Kaya FC–Iloilo snatching the second encounter, 2-0. Ceres currently lead the standings with 28 points from 11 matches, while Kaya FC–Iloilo sit in second, with 22 points from the same number of matches.

Tickets to the match can be purchased at SM Cinemas, and will also be for sale at the entrances of the Iloilo Sports Complex on game day. Prices are P50 for Grandstand, and P150 for VIP. The match will be streamed live via PFLTV.ph.

“Surely, they’ll be very aggressive, as they’ll be looking to bounce back from their only defeat,” said Marcaida. “But we’re ready for what challenge they bring in Saturday’s game. Despite the suspensions to some of our players, we found a formula to cope with the demand of how Ceres play the game.”

“Collective effort, as seen in the previous games, could be our edge for tomorrow’s game,” he added.

NOTE: Ceres Negros did not show up for the press conference.