United City inch closer to completion after signing Marañon

Showing their title intentions right away, United City had signed Ceres-Negros' record goalscorer Bienvenido Marañon as the new club in the Philippines Football League are starting to complete the Busmen's reunion.

Since making his Philippine debut in 2015, Marañon was instrumental in all of Ceres' four league titles in both the old United Football League and the PFL, as well as the Bacolod side's stint in the AFC Cup where he was the competition's record scorer with 35 to his name.

The fiery Spanish winger came just a goal short of Jordan Mintah's 31 last year, but his strikes proved to be pivotal in clinching the league and Copa double undefeated last year, before Ceres nearly went to the AFC Champions League earlier this year.

With the pandemic took a toll on the season, Marañon will relish the challenge of being with United City, who took the license from the original owner Leo Rey Yanson.

For him it, the reunion of his former teammates was too good for him to refuse, even if the negotiations that led to the signing took a while owing to the transition to the new ownership group.

"It took time because both parties have to agree," he said to Pinoyliga, in which his last match came in Ceres' 4-0 thrashing of Indonesia's Bali United in the AFC Cup last March 11.

He added that he is excited for the resumption of the games, with the PFL eyes the much-awaited September kickoff.

"We are craving to start training and enjoy it again," Marañon then said.

Photo: Ceres-Negros (FILE)