The biggest winners following the recent string of results in the Division I of the United Football League (UFL) are probably Ceres-La Salle FC. In a luxurious position, Ceres-La Salle Head Coach Ali Go wishes his team to avoid complacency heading towards the business end of the season. In doing so, he thinks playing up to their standards at all times is the key.
“We have to show everyone that we’re consistent in playing every game,” Go declared. So far, it has been the case. Only failing to win one of their 11 league games this season, the league’s runaway leaders are currently six points clear of nearest title contenders Stallion FC. Still, with a game in hand, Ceres-La Salle may extend the gap to as big as nine points soon. It came after the Negrense club notched their third straight win in the league last week against Pachanga-Diliman. Days later, they witnessed fellow title contenders drop points to their benefit.
With everything going their way, Go thinks that their fate will be clearer after playing a couple of challenging games. The first one will be against in-form Green Archers United who are on a three-game winning run themselves. Subsequently, the Bacolodnons have Kaya on their heels. Winning both matches will perhaps mean that Ceres-La Salle have one hand on the most prestigious prize in Philippine club football. After all, they only need 13 points to win the league provided that the petition filed by Stallion will not be upheld. That number may even go down to as low as 10 should Ceres defeat the second-placed team in the league. It seems like it is just a matter of time but one top class player from the Ceres camp begs to differ.
Adrian Gallardo celebrates his fourth goal in Ceres’ match against Pachanga-Diliman FC
Adrian Gallardo, the league’s highest goalscorer to date, exploded in their most recent match. By scoring four against Pachanga-Diliman, the Cadiz-born striker reiterated that there is still much work to do if they are to lift the trophy come August. “If we think that the league is finished, it’s not true. We need to prepare more for next game,” he pointed out. The Spanish target man currently has 12 goals in the league and Go did not fail to highlight his ace player’s helpfulness to their cause. “I think he showed it with good finishing. His fit for the team is good because we have many good passers,” the man at the helm elaborated.
Aware of upsets and the possible heightened pressure, Go is confident that the team is well-equipped into the final stretch. Having learned from their loss to Global two months ago, which remains as their only defeat in the league, the players have been responding well from his orders. “We don’t want to take chances now. Before, we usually start very slow. Ten to fifteen minutes then everyone gets into the game. I told them that we can’t afford to be like that,” he recalled. Go added that he wants his wards to take their opponents’ confidence right from the get-go. To do that, Go reckons that playing their brand of football is the only way to assure victory after each 90. With six games remaining, they may have to just keep on doing what they have been doing since recovering from an unfamiliar defeat.
