JB Borlongan calmly connected on a close-range free kick to lift Dynamic Herb Cebu FC to the dramatic 1-1 draw with defending champion United City FC in the final triple header match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Gentle Giants collected their first ever goal and points in league play after seeing action in the last two editions of the Copa Paulino Alcantara.
Defense was the key for both sides as they battled to a scoreless first half. Mark Hartmann finally broke the silence with his header in the 71st minute to push the defending champions ahead but the Cebuanos had other plans.
The referee awarded a free kick after a hard foul 54 feet to the Dynamic Herb goal and Borlongan promptly volunteered to take it. His looper sailed over the wall of defenders and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jun Badelic in the 88th minute and that was enough for the result.
“I take shots like that in practice,” said Borlongan. “Our loss to Kaya last time woke us up so we all worked harder and against the champions no less.”
The draw kept United City in second place with seven points. Cebu also hacked a similar 1-1 draw with United City in the 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara earlier this year but United exacted revenge in the knockout semifinals, 1-0.