Jared Alexander R. Peña is a Filipino athlete who has garnered attention for his promising career in association football. He was part of the Filipino footbal team that placed fourth place in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games held in Thailand.
Personal Information
Name –> Jared Alexander Reyes Peña
Nickname –> Jax
Birth Date –> August 5, 2006 (Age )
Hometown –> Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Height –> 1.65 m
Family and Childhood
Brother –> Justin Peña, also a football player
Career
Jax Peña is a versatile midfielder, primarily operating in a central or defensive role. In his youth and early senior career, he was a member of the Azkals Development Team (ADT), a project designed to groom young talents for the Philippine national team. He has also played for Stallion Laguna FC and spent time in the United States, where he was affiliated with programs like Black Rock FC. Most recently, his educational and athletic path has led him to the U.S., where he has been a student-athlete at Western Reserve Academy in Ohio and has committed to playing collegiate soccer for the Walsh University Cavaliers (Walsh University).
On the international stage, Peña has represented the Philippines across several age groups, including the U16, U19, and U23 national teams. Notably, he was called up to the senior Philippines national team (formerly known as the Azkals) for international friendlies, making appearances in matches against teams like Taiwan and Hong Kong. His participation in tournaments such as the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers and the Mandiri Cup highlights his status as one of the emerging talents in Philippine football.
Jax Peña, further solidified his reputation as a rising star in Philippine football through his significant role at the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held in Thailand. Serving as a key midfielder for the Philippine Under-22 (U22) men’s national team, Peña was instrumental in one of the country’s most successful football campaigns in recent history. Under the guidance of the coaching staff, the team achieved a historic breakthrough by advancing to the semi-finals after a decisive victory over Indonesia in the group stages.
During the tournament, which took place in December 2025 across venues in Bangkok, Chonburi, and Chiang Mai, Peña’s technical skill and vision were on full display. In the high-stakes bronze medal match against Malaysia, he was a constant offensive threat, notably creating scoring opportunities including a dangerous “half-chance” that forced a save from the Malaysian goalkeeper. The Philippines narrowly missed out on a podium finish, concluding the tournament in fourth place.
See also: Biography of Carlos Yulo , Alex Eala , Hidilyn Diaz