Former NCAA champion athletes Roberto “Papu” Corsame, Jr. and Jessie Semblante are making a name for themselves and representing the flag and country in professional football internationally.

Corsame, a proud product of Arellano University (AU), is now the team captain of the Cebu Football Club that is playing, as of this writing, in the ASEAN Club Championships against powerhouses Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore.

He lifted his first silverware in his professional career when they won the Philippines Football League Finals Series in May 2025.

“High school and college ni-represent ko yung Arellano University playing in NCAA. Sobrang laking part ito ng pagiging football player ko kaya andito ako ngayon, and I’m very thankful,” Corsame told GMA Regional TV News.

The talisman himself first showed his wares as a midfielder of the AU juniors team and was selected to play for National Capital Region in the 2013 Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete City where he was one of the standouts.

He then joined the seniors rank of Arellano and became part of the Chiefs’ champion team led by Charles Vincent Gamutan and Jumbeng Guinabang in season 91 that ended San Beda’s five-year dominance, the school’s first-ever and only title to date.

On the other hand, Cebu’s new first-choice goalkeeper, Jessie Semblante, looks to bring his winning ways with his new squad.

He spent his high school and collegiate career with San Beda University collecting three NCAA titles in juniors and seniors ranks combined.

“From San Beda kasi, tinuturuan kaming laging manalo,” Semblante said.

Semblante has big shoes to fill after the departure of Cebu’s two veteran goalkeepers.

The Liloan, Cebu native had a rough start when he made his debut with the club in a 2-1 losing effort against Kasuka FC of Brunei before he found his footing to help Cebu keep a 3-0 clean sheet victory in front of the home fans in his second game.

“Nung una, kinakabahan kasi first time ulit naglaro sa ibang bansa… nung pagsabi na ako yung mag-start, parang nabigla ako,” he admitted.

“Yung mga dating goalkeepers composed na masyado sa team tapos ngayon ako yung nabigyan ng responsibilidad,” he added.

As a Cebuano playing previously for the Philippine youth teams multiple times, Semblante wants to cherish this once in a lifetime opportunity of representing his hometown anew.

“Being a young goalkeeper from Cebu tapos pumunta ng Manila para mag-represent ng San Beda, tas ngayon bumalik sa Cebu, sobrang nakaka proud sa sarili, maganda mag-represent ng hometown mo,” he said.