The Cebu Football Club aims for a complete turnaround when they face Kasuka Football Club of Brunei in the the second leg of the ASEAN Club Championship qualifying playoff match on Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The Gentle Giants' hope of making the group stage was hit with a dent when they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat in the hands of the reigning Brunei Super League champions at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in the first leg.

Head coach Tomasito Glenn Ramos told GMA Regional TV News that the team is battle-ready when they face Kasuka anew.

“I do believe that we can challenge this second game and it's a must win. The team is also motivated and we have worked hard for the past days to prepare for this Friday's game,” he said.

The multi-titled Cebuano football tactician also believes that playing at home, in front of the Filipino crowd, will give the team a much needed boost.

“We also have more corrections and we also improve our game plan and the players should be positive, always heads up and we have the advantage because we are playing at home here in Rizal," he added.

Meanwhile, team captain Roberto “Papu” Corsame aired his disappointment after failing to get the victory on their first date and hopes to use the result as a motivation.

“Last time, bad result kami, hindi namin ginusto na matalo,” the former Arellano University booter expressed.

“Mas naging inspirasyon namin to na manalo next game sa second leg. Sobrang importante ito sa amin para makapasok kami sa group stage, malaking bagay din sa amin ito, ma-expose mga players ng Cebu FC,” he added.

The winner between both sides will earn a ticket to the tournament proper and join Group A along with Buriram United and BG Pathum of Thailand, Selangor FC of Malaysia, Cong An Ha Noi of Vietnam, and Tampines Rovers of Singapore.

NEW FACES, NEW SEASON

Several new faces made their debut for Cebu FC against Kasuka in their last playdate.

Among them were the lone goalscorer of the team, Rico Andes, fresh from an impressive national team duties in the under-23 ASEAN Football Championship Noah Leddel, and three time NCAA champion with San Beda University, goalkeeper Jessie Semblante, defenders Sam Azimzadeh Tabrizi and Amanhom Khamis, and new striker Abdulfattokh Khudoydodzoda.

The team also got the services of Portuguese midfielder Anderson Pinto, who will be reunited with Coach Glenn Ramos and hopes to have a remarkable season with the team.

“Top coach, worked for him before and I’m back. The first time was good so I had to do it again. When we got in touch, it was a no brainer,” Pinto said of Coach Glenn.

“Individually, I’d say to get my stats up, both goals and assists I’d like to hit double figures but as a group, as a team, our target was to win the league,” Pinto on his goals for this season.

The two joined forces during their stay with LFC Victorias.

Prior to bringing his talents to the country, Pinto spent most of his career in England and also had stints in Gibraltar, Wales, and Hungary. But despite his experienced career, he admitted that pressure to perform is part of football most especially with Cebu FC who recently won the Philippine Football League (PFL) Finals Series.

“Football is a sport of pressure. I felt like every game is a game to show what you can do. Football wouldn’t be football without pressure, pressure builds diamonds, right, so, there’s pressure everyday,” Pinto stated.

The Gentle Giants lost several players from last season’s squad that includes, Jun Badelic, Ralphie Dabao, Gabriel Silva, Hiromasa Ishikawa, Rhino Goutier, Goktug Demiroglu, Paolo Pavone, Kainoa Bailey, Lorenzo Genco, Guytho, Mijland, Ryoo Togashi, Rintaro Hama, Magson Dourado, and Ace Villanueva.

“Actually, hirap din kasi andaming nawala na players from last season, so, ngayon adjustment talaga, communication yung kailangan naming gawin para intact yung team,” team captain Papu Corsame said.

FOR THE PEOPLE OF CEBU

Composed mostly of homegrown players, Cebu FC made their debut in the domestic professional football scene in 2021 and since then a regular figure in the continental stage.

After finishing the 2022–23 PFL season as runners-up, they qualified for their very first continental competition and played in the 2023–24 AFC Cup. They recorded their first international win against Shan United of Myanmar in a 1–0 victory to give the club their first ever points in the AFC competition.

The Gentle Giants then finished the 2024 Philippines Football League as runners-up once again and earned a place in the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two where they went head-to-head with South Korean giants Jeonbuk, Malaysian club Selangor and Thailand’s Muangthong United.

For Coach Glenn Ramos, a win on Friday is more than just a victory for the team. Pitting Cebu with other clubs in Asia and Asean region whenever there is an opportunity is a triumphant glory for the people behind the club, the Cebuanos.

“As a Cebuano coach, we are very proud. It is an honor to bring Cebu in the international games,” he said.