“Congratulations to Noah Leddel, John Lucero, and Nic Guimaraes for being named in the Mandiri Cup Best XI. May this inspire them and our under-23 men’s team in facing tough opponents in next week’s AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.” – PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez
The Philippine men’s national under-23 team (PMNT U23) made another history as three of its members were named on Thursday in the Best XI of the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship – Mandiri Cup held last July.
They are central midfielder John Lucero, central defender Noah Leddel, and goalkeeper Nic Guimaraes.
In addition, Leddel, a recent recruit of Cebu F. C., was named as Most Dynamic Player of the Tournament.
They join Otu Banatao as the Filipino awardees in the Mandiri Cup.
Banatao, who scored three goals in the tournament, was named Rising Star of the Tournament during the awarding ceremony of the Vietnam and Indonesia final last July 29.
Before the Mandiri Cup, PMNT star midfielder Sandro Reyes was the lone Filipino Best XI member of the U23 ASEAN Championship, which he earned in 2022.
Lucero, Leddel, and Guimaraes played important roles in the Philippines’ remarkable defense during the tournament, with 2-0 against Malaysia and Brunei and narrow losses against Indonesia (0-1) and Vietnam (1-2).
Lucero, Leddel, Guimaraes, Banatao, and Reyes are in the PMNT U23 will compete starting on September 3 in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers Group K in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The team will open its campaign against West Asian powerhouse Syria and will battle host Tajikistan on September 6 and Nepal on September 9.
All group winners will qualify to the January 2026 finals in Saudi Arabia along with the four best second placers in the eleven groups.
