United City will be virtually intact for the upcoming Philippines Football League (PFL) season after the club formerly known as Ceres Negros kept most of its players in its AFC Cup lineup.
Spanish striker Bienve Marañon is the latest re-signing of United City through a social media announcement on Sunday night.
Marañon has been with the club since 2015 and has become its primary gunner offensively.
In the PFL season last year, Marañon scored 30 goals, more than enough to earn him the Golden Boot award.
He also drilled in five goals while still using the Ceres Negros name in this year’s AFC Cup that has been postponed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Marañon is currently the tournament’s all-time scoring leader with 35 goals.
The 34-year-old Marañon is up for naturalization with a Senate bill passed by Senator Miguel Zubiri along with Robert Mendy, who on Saturday was also given a fresh contract by United City.
United City also announced the signing of Pika Minegishi, Tadashi Odawara, Joshua Dutosme, Dennis Villanueva, Tristan Robles, Dodz Pasinabo, Angelo Marasigan, Jun Badelic, Ron Bayan, Sean Kane, and OJ Porteria.
According to Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta, the PFL is looking to start its season by early September.
A bubble is set to take place at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona should the season pushes through.*PNA
