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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Velaris completes golden sweep, clinches PCL Asia Finals berth

Velaris completes golden sweep, clinches PCL Asia Finals berth

Published Mar 1, 2026 12:57 pm  |  Updated Mar 1, 2026 01:17 pm

At A Glance

  • More than surviving a marathon finale filled with extended rallies, sharp cross-court dinks, and pressure-packed third-shot drops, Shesha Bree Biñas, Chrystelle Marjh Elisan, Izzy Lacida and Jacob Cagas completed a golden sweep in women's and men's doubles and two mixed doubles events to stamp their dominance in the centerpiece event of Pickle Fest 2026.
Team Velaris display their gold medals, replica of scholarship development grant, and ticket to the PCL Asia Grand Finals in China after ruling the PCL Rising Stars U19 Sectional Tournament in Davao over the weekend.
Team Velaris display their gold medals, replica of scholarship development grant, and ticket to the PCL Asia Grand Finals in China after ruling the PCL Rising Stars U19 Sectional Tournament in Davao over the weekend.
DAVAO City – Team Velaris blended skill, poise and championship composure to outlast the SABR squad in a pulsating 23-21 gold medal showdown, ruling the PCL (Pickleball Champions League) Rising Stars U19 Sectional Tournament at Pickletown here over the weekend.
More than surviving a marathon finale filled with extended rallies, sharp cross-court dinks, and pressure-packed third-shot drops, Shesha Bree Biñas, Chrystelle Marjh Elisan, Izzy Lacida and Jacob Cagas completed a golden sweep in women’s and men’s doubles and two mixed doubles events to stamp their dominance in the centerpiece event of Pickle Fest 2026.
Their triumph earned them a coveted berth to the PCL Asia Grand Finals on Hainan Island, China this April, along with a US$1,000 development grant from the Asia Elite Pickleball Academy (AEPA). Team Velaris also received paddles, balls and official apparel to further sharpen their game, while PCL Asia will shoulder airfare, local transportation, and accommodations for the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Cebu City will host the Net and Paddle Tournament from March 11 to 15.
Biñas and Elisan controlled the soft game with steady dinks and sharp net play, winning key long rallies to set the tone, while Lacida and Cagas mixed powerful drives with precise third-shot drops, dictating tempo and closing out crucial points with confident volleys.
With the title hanging in the balance, Velaris leaned on smart plays, disciplined resets and clutch side-outs to repel SABR’s late surge and seal the championship.
The SABR side of Rose Lieryanne Bacaron, Samanthan Abes, Alva Bual and Aljamier Usman settled for silver, while the Pickle Homies squad of Mervic Indagacan, Jenny Tolentino, Rojin Tagimalay and Jipoy Gildore secured the bronze medal.
Sharing the spotlight in the conclusion of the four-day pioneering event organized by Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. (KAVC) in partnership with Sunrise Events, Inc., were the champions in the various Open age-group divisions.
Jin Hernandez and Robert Nobleza defeated Roddick Litang and Anthony Byrd, 15-8, to capture the 20+ men’s doubles crown. Juan Carlo Pantua and Aldrin Quintero dominated Robbie Martinez and Winn Htun, 11-4, in the 35+ men’s doubles, while Patricia Adaza and Macy Serrano prevailed over Mary Jane Elisan and Aubrey Rivera, 11-6, in the 35+ women’s doubles.
Pantua later joined Adaza to secure the mixed doubles gold with an 11-4 victory against Rivera and Rafael Rodriguez.
Other champions emerged in the Novice, Low Intermediate, and High Intermediate categories of the tournament backed by Ramsports, RPM, AEPA, DUPR, Milo, Pocari Sweat, Summit and Acacia Hotel Davao.
But the Rising Stars U19 division belonged to Team Velaris.
From the baseline battles to the kitchen-line firefights, Velaris proved it could win the soft exchanges, survive the fast hands duel, and finish strong under pressure – a complete performance befitting champions now bound for the continental stage.
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