SINGAPORE — Philippine football side Ceres La Salle will be looking to pull off a couple more giant-killing acts in this year’s RHB Singapore Cup after stunning Tampines Rovers 2-1 in an AFC Cup game two weeks ago.

Ceres is one of three foreign teams taking part in the 12-strong competition this year, the other two being Global FC, also of the Philippines, and Nagaworld FC from Cambodia.

The draw for the 19th edition of the annual cup tournament was conducted by the Football Association of Singapore yesterday as part of the third Car-Free Sunday SG at the Civic District’s Padang and Esplanade Park. Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim was the guest of honour.

The three foreign clubs and five S.League sides will battle it out in the preliminary rounds, with the winners advancing to the quarter-finals, where they will face the likes of defending champions Albirex Niigata, reigning S.League champions Brunei DPMM, Balestier Khalsa FC and Tampines Rovers.

Home United, runners-up last year, will face an in-form Hougang United — who are currently third in the S.League — in the preliminary round, with the winner to meet Balestier Khalsa in the final eight.

Nine-time S.League champions Warriors FC will meet Geylang International FC, as both teams battle for a quarter-final berth against reigning champions Albirex Niigata.

Ceres will be looking to beat the Garena Young Lions in a bid to earn a match-up with DPMM.

“We are heartened to see an increasing interest in the S.League this year and we’re equally excited about the quality of teams that are going to compete in the 2016 RHB Singapore Cup,” said Jason Wong, country head of RHB Bank Singapore. ADELENE WONG