United Football League double winner Global and Ceres-Negros were grouped against some of Southeast Asia’s top clubs under a new format that will be implemented in next year’s AFC Cup following yesterday’s draw in Kuala Lumpur.
Global was placed in Group F of the ASEAN Zone alongside Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim, Myanmar’s Magwe and the winner of the playoff between Lao Toyota of Laos and Boeungket Angkor of Cambodia.
Ceres, on the other hand, made it to Group G of the same zone together with Vietnam’s Hanoi T&T, Malaysia’s Felda United and Singapore’s Tampines Rovers.
The Loyola Meralco Sparks, who placed third in the UFL league competition, are on standby.
Global must beat three teams, first against Tampines at home in late January, in the preliminary/playoff rounds in order to make the group stage of the Champions League.
Under the new AFC Cup format, teams have been bracketed to five zones – West Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, East Asia and ASEAN. The old format only had two zones – West and East. (Jonas Terrado)