Cebu FC Earns Spot in ASEAN Shopee Cup 2025–26 Group Stage After Convincing Win

Cebu FC—officially known as Dynamic Herb Cebu Football Club and affectionately dubbed “The Gentle Giants”—has stamped its ticket to the group stage of the upcoming ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup 2025–26 through an emphatic aggregate victory over Brunei’s Kasuka FC.

The journey reached its climax at Manila’s iconic Rizal Memorial Stadium on August 15, 2025, where Cebu delivered a standout performance in the second leg of their playoff tie, emphatically defeating Kasuka 3–0. This result overturned their earlier first-leg deficit—Cebu had initially fallen 2–1 to the Bruneian side on August 8, 2025 at Bandar Seri Begawan’s Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

At Rizal Memorial Stadium, Cebu came out firing early. Esrom Daniel Paulos broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, setting the tone for the night. Exactly five minutes later, Rico Ofredo Andes doubled the lead with a precise finish in the 26th minute. Andes struck again in the 79th minute to complete his brace and seal the emphatic win. With a 4–2 scoreline on aggregate, Cebu comfortably secured their place in the tournament’s group stage.

This significant win adds to the narrative of the 2025–26 ASEAN Club Championship, which kicks off its group stage on August 20, 2025, and will continue through May 2026. Cebu FC joins the field of 12 teams competing in the main draw, two of whom—like Cebu—earned their entry via these highly charged playoff matches.

Notably, they will be sharing Group A with regional heavyweights such as Buriram United, BG Pathum United, Selangor FC, Công An Hà Nội FC, and Tampines Rovers FC. This placement signals a daunting but exciting challenge ahead as dynamic Herb Cebu FC now faces some of Southeast Asia’s most established clubs.

This triumphant display cements Cebu FC’s growing reputation in regional football. Founded only in 2021, the club has rapidly climbed the ladder in Philippine football, competing in the Philippines Football League and earning a solid following at home. Their push into this tournament’s group stage is a testament to both their developing talent and ambition.

Looking forward, Cebu FC now prepares for the group stage kick-off on August 20, 2025, with fixtures against familiar and formidable opponents able to test their mettle on a larger stage.

In summary, Dynamic Herb Cebu’s emphatic 3–0 second-leg win against Kasuka FC not only flipped the narrative after their first-leg loss but also booked their place in the highly anticipated group stage of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup 2025–26. With their path now clear, Cebu FC enters familiar territory—ready to challenge and perhaps upset some of Southeast Asia’s top clubs.