The Philippine Football Federation formally launched its early preparations for the Philippine Men’s Under-23 National Football Team with a talent identification exhibition match last April 28 at the Mall of Asia Sky Pitch in Pasay City.
The match featured two squads composed of the country’s most promising young players drawn from the UAAP, the Philippines Football League, and the NCAA, marking a key step in building the next generation of national team standouts.
The initiative reflects a strategic shift toward sustained, year-round development of the U23 program, even outside tournament windows.
PFF President John Gutierrez reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to long-term player development:
“The preparation process of PMNT U23 is designed to measure the potential of our young players. By putting them in high-level environments early, we accelerate not just their development, but their readiness to meet the standards of international football,” he said.
PMNFT U23 head coach Garrath McPherson emphasized that the federation has closely monitored domestic competitions over the past six months to assemble a high-potential pool largely composed of players born between 2005 and 2007.
“We have had a close eye on the UAAP and PFL competitions for the last six months. We’ve selected 40 to 44 players of the highest potential, and this group represents the next cohort for the U23 program,” said McPherson.
“Talent ID activities like this feed into selections for next year’s SEA Games and the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.”
The exhibition match was led by U23 coaches and attended by Talent ID and scouting personnel.
Players from UAAP schools—Inigo Castro, Bacchus Ekberg, and Alonso Aguilar (De La Salle University); Fonsi Gonzalez, Josh Meriño, Raiken Comla, Jan Donato, Joseph Garces, Sylver Pormento, Kendrick Saludes, and Lorenz Tortona (University of the Philippines); Alfonso Loja, Caleb Santos, Joaquin Collo, and Matteo Lacson (Ateneo de Manila University); Daniel Caganaan, Stephen Flores, Vincenzo Solidum, Kyler Escobar, and Rodrigo Marinas (University of Santo Tomas); Charles Demeray, McJay Naniel, RJ Pescadera, Francis Sambaan, and Stephen Sorea (Far Eastern University); and Jamar Andrade, John Banagodos, and Nathan de Ocampo (Adamson University) make up a major portion of the pool.
They are joined by goalkeepers Nathan Bata (Kaya), Lance Bencio (One Taguig), and Javee Tagle (St. Benilde), along with field players Karim Chahine (DB Garelli), William Cosenza (Aguilas), Janjan Jalique (Tuloy), Aarran Long, John McPhil Magalazo II (EAC), Sam Salingay (San Beda), Cyrille Saut (Tuloy), Dale Anoya (St. Benilde), John Vitualla (St. Benilde), Jhon Diaz (Tuloy), and John Gimenez (USPF Cebu).
McPherson highlighted the value of competitive match environments to complement traditional camps at this stage of the cycle.
“Talent ID games like this complement traditional training camps. These games allow us to see a group of players in a competitive match with less of an impact on club competitions. When players are placed alongside other high-level talents, you get a clearer picture of their performance ceiling,” he explained.
He also noted the potential to stage similar one-off matches regularly throughout the year.
“It’s incredibly important to see players perform in games like these. These matches give them the platform to showcase their quality without the need for extended camps outside tournament periods,” he said.
The Australian coach underscored the importance of maintaining momentum following a breakthrough 2025 campaign for the U23 side.
“Leading SEA programs like Vietnam and Indonesia don’t stop preparing, and neither should we. The U23 level is critical in the development pathway, and consistent activity ensures we are ready not just to compete, but to take the next step and win. It also provides a sustainable pipeline for our senior men’s national team,” he said.
Following the domestic-based assessment, the PFF will expand its scouting efforts internationally with a talent identification camp scheduled in San Diego, California, in May 2026, targeting Filipino-eligible players based in the United States. The federation will soon release the application form for the San Diego camp.
