LA Salle and Kaya FC are in the knockout stage of the 2016 Asian Football Confederation Cup.
They formally entered the next phase after Adrian Gallardo scored a hat trick to help Ceres-La Salle smother Bangladesh’s Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, 5-0, Tuesday at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod.
Kaya played to a scoreless draw with New Radiant at the National Stadium in Male, Maldives.
As they finished with three wins and and three draws, Ceres La Salle secured the top spot in Group E.
Kaya FC ended up behind Kitchee with their 3-1-2 win-draw-loss record in Group B and joined the latter, the top qualifier, to the next round.
Bienvenido Maranañon opened up scoring with seven minutes in for Ceres.
A minute later, Gallardo scored another off a Patrick Reichelt assist to double the Ceres lead.
Gallardo dominate the second half, scoring off another assist from Reichelt in the 56th minute.
Less than 10 minutes later, Gallardo volleyed in one more goal in at the 64-minute mark.
Gallardo then Reichelt, who struck in the 70th minute finish, hand Ceres a 5-0 cushion.
More challenges away Ceres-La Salle and Kaya in the Round of 16.
The former UFL Cup champion Kaya FC meets AFC Cup defending champion Johor Darul Tazim on May 25, before Ceres meets a still-undetermined rival the following day.