MANILA – Tampines Rovers FC made a winning start to Group A of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ 2025/26 on Wednesday 20 August as Akbar Nawas’ tournament debutants handed hosts Dynamic Herb Cebu FC a 3-1 defeat at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Hide Higashikawa put the Singapore Premier League side in front in just the second minute before Dylan Fox doubled the advantage on 19 minutes. Cebu responded immediately through Senegalese forward Abou Sy, but Tampines sealed the three points when substitute Trent Buhagiar struck in stoppage time.

The Singaporeans struck early as Shuya Yamashita’s long pass set up Taufik Suparno, whose effort was saved by Rami Jeridi, only for Higashikawa to pounce on the rebound. Fox then rose highest to meet Joel Chew’s corner with a thunderous header for 2-0, but Cebu’s first real chance brought them back into the contest, Sy powering home a header from Esrom Paulos’ delivery.

The match remained tense, with both sides creating chances. Cebu pushed for an equaliser through Paulos and Sy, but Tampines’ defensive solidity and quick transitions proved decisive. In the dying moments, Buhagiar capped a counterattack to seal a 3-1 victory for the Singaporeans.

Despite the defeat, Cebu head coach Glenn Ramos highlighted the positives and lessons for his side. “First, we have to check on the errors, especially keeping the ball in possession. And also, the patience of the players – when they have the ball, they should keep it on the feet,” Ramos said. “In the second half, we adjusted, and I’m proud of the team. They worked hard from the first to the last minute. Only the three goals, of course, we cannot stop them. The counter-attack was too fast.”

When asked about the scouting report on Tampines, Ramos admitted he was surprised by their depth. “Some of their key players they kept for the second half, and the bench was very deep. That changed the momentum. In the first half we managed to hold some key players, but when they brought in the main strikers, it shifted the game.”

Ramos also addressed the absence of Rico Andes, one of Cebu’s heroes from the qualifying round. “Rico suffered a muscle strain, and we also have another player with a knee injury. Jaime Rusquillo was unavailable due to illness after his stint with the national team. So I had to use players from the third unit.”

For Tampines, coach Akbar Nawas was quick to praise his players’ commitment and cohesion. “Teamwork wins games, and ultimately, whatever work the players have put in, credit goes to them for producing that kind of display,” he said.

With Tampines balancing their ASEAN campaign and the start of the Singapore Premier League, Nawas explained his rotation strategy. “We had to rest some players who featured in the Charity Shield a few days ago, especially with our first league game against Geylang International coming up on Sunday. Physically and mentally, we had to take that into consideration before putting out the team today.”

Nawas also reflected on his return to the Philippines, where he once coached. “It feels like another homecoming. Cebu was my first overseas club, and those memories are unforgettable. To come back here and see familiar faces makes it special.”

On the game itself, the Tampines coach struck a balanced tone. “There are always two sides of the coin. While we won, we must not be blindsided by the result. We allowed Cebu back into the game at 2-1. We’ll review the video, work on our lapses, and improve. But I also credit the players for managing the game in the end. This is part of football: sometimes the opponent has their moments, and sometimes we do. The key is to learn from it and get better.”

Looking more broadly, Nawas praised the progress of Philippine football. “Cebu gave a very good account of themselves in their first ASEAN tournament. That sets expectations for us as well when we face Kaya in the AFC Cup next month.”

While Cebu will look to regroup, Tampines Rovers delivered a performance that underlined their ambition. Organized at the back, clinical up front, and with quality options off the bench, Nawas’ side showcased both their discipline and attacking flair.

With Fox named Shopee Star of the Match and Buhagiar making an instant impact, Tampines demonstrated they are not just participants in this year’s tournament: they are contenders. Their 3-1 triumph in Manila was more than just three goals; it was a statement debut in the ASEAN Club Championship.