Ceres fends off Kaya in PFL Finals Series

Manny Ott and Fernando Rodriguez consoling Masanari Omura

Ceres-Negros FC secured a spot in the Philippines Football League Finals Series on Saturday night, defeating Kaya FC-Makati, 2-1 to take the two-legged Finals Series matchup, 3-2 on aggregate.

Bienvenido Maranon put the Busmen ahead after thirty minutes, but Woody Ugarte would equalize three minutes before halftime to keep the visitors' hopes of advancing alive. Ceres though would claim the victory spoils thanks to a lob from Iain Ramsay with seventeen minutes remaining in the second half to take the win that night.

Reflecting the intensity that is prevalent with this match as of late, the hosts had the first crack at scoring, with former Kaya frontman OJ Porteria sent his attempt over the bar. The visitors would have their own scoring chance, but Jordan Mintah just sent it wide of the post. Minutes later, Robert Lopez Mendy's header of a Kaya corner went over the bar.

Maranon would eventually break through for Ceres, becoming the eventual recipient of the interplay between Omid Nazari and Arnie Pasinabo. He would then power through a header into the net to score the opening goal of the match, and double the aggregate lead.

Kaya would manage to find a sliver of hope, as Ugarte would take advantage of Roland Mueller parrying a Miguel Tanton free kick straight towards him to equalize things and bring back the aggregate advantage back down to a goal heading into the halftime break.

The visitors seemed buoyed by the Ugarte goal, as they tried to find another one to wrest the advantage away from the Busmen. They would have a couple of really good chances, with Jovin Bedic finding Mintah for him to head it just wide of the post, moments after Bedic failed to convert on his own opportunity.

Ramsay would then issue the dagger with that lob over Ref Cuaresma to give the game to Ceres.

Afterwards, Kaya head coach Noel Marcaida was pleased with how the team performed, noting their toughness and never giving up until the last minute.

With the win, Ceres-Negros is set to play in the final on December 16 against Global Cebu FC, after they dispatched league topnotchers FC Meralco Manila, 3-2 on aggregate.

As for Kaya, they will match-up against the Sparks that weekend in the third place game.