PRE-MATCH PRESSCON. Ceres-Negros assistant coach Ronald Ian Treyes (2nd from left) and Davao Aguilas head coach Melchor Anzures (2nd from right) with their respective players Michael Louie Casas (left) and Jason de Jong during the pre-match press conference in Bacolod City on Tuesday (June 5, 2018). (Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver)
BACOLOD CITY-- Ceres-Negros assistant coach Ronald Ian Treyes has remained confident of his team’s performance against visiting Davao Aguilas now mentored by Melchor Anzures.
“We’re still the same team, it doesn’t affect us,” Treyes said during Tuesday afternoon’s press conference ahead of their Philippines Football League match at Panaad Stadium Wednesday night.
A week earlier, Anzures took over the coaching duties from Marlon Maro, who was still the head coach when Ceres beat Davao, 3-0, before the Negrense crowd on May 23.
“A change of management could be an advantage (to other team) sometimes, but for us we will continue with our tactics, our game, our team play,” Treyes added.
He said, however, that Ceres had a hard time in the previous weeks, playing three consecutive games with merely three or four days of rest in between.
“In the last five games, we got 10 points with three wins and one draw. It’s very important for us to get a lead of 10 points, at least. We hope we can still continue even with the unfortunate events that happened, the injuries,” Treyes said.
Goalkeeper Louie Michael Casas said most of the Ceres players are ready for Wednesday’s match, which he considers a big game.
“We will give our best here at Panaad because it is our home. We have to defend our home as defending champions,” he added.
Meanwhile, Azures, whose key players include Phil and James Younghusband, said the match against Ceres would be “very tough.”
“It’s a very tough match so we prepared. The boys are well-prepared. We did a lot of adjustments also,” he said.
Midfielder Jason de Jong, who used to play for Ceres, said that with Azures, and assistant coach Leigh Manson coming in for Aguilas, changes have already taken place.
“You can see the big difference. The way we’re playing now, our possession is way better…It’s very positive for us now. We’re ready for this game,” he added.
Ceres-Negros, with 25 points, remains on top while Davao Aguilas is at number three with 14 points behind second Kaya FC-Iloilo with 22 points.(PNA)
