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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Amirul, Isagan banner PH teams in PCL Asia Finals qualifiers

Amirul, Isagan banner PH teams in PCL Asia Finals qualifiers

Published Oct 3, 2025 09:41 am

At A Glance

  • Top bets Fatima Amirul and Nik Isagan begin their title defense as they banner the Filipino hopefuls vying for glory in the upcoming Pickleball Champions League (PCL) Philippines Season 2 at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City slated Nov. 15 to 16.
Top bets Fatima Amirul and Nik Isagan begin their title defense as they banner the Filipino hopefuls vying for glory in the upcoming Pickleball Champions League (PCL) Philippines Season 2 at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City slated Nov. 15 to 16.
Following the format change, the two-day meet will now feature eight elite teams composed of veterans and rising stars who will duke it out for a chance to represent the country in the second iteration of the PCL Asia Finals in China.
The grand champion will receive a $5,000 (P290,947) purse to help fund their trip where all finalists, led by powerhouse Vietnam, brace for tough competition.
According to Steve Kuhn, PCL chairman, the second staging of PCL Asia finale would be more challenging but the prize pool has increased with the grand champion taking home $30,000 (around P1.7 million).
“Season 2 will raise the bar with even more teams, higher stakes, and new rivalries. We’ve seen how passionate the players and fans are in the Philippines,” said Kuhn.
“And this season, we expect the competition to be tougher, the games are more intense and the spotlight on pickleball to shine even brighter across Asia,” he added.
The Philippines was hailed as the overall champion in the inaugural edition where Amirul, Isagan, Ken De La Cruz, and Medeline Saraza dominated the elimination round, securing six wins and one draw before they swept Hong Kong and Vietnam in the semifinals and finals, respectively.
”I hope we’ll represent the country again in the finals, but I’m [already] happy seeing all these Filipino players competing at their best,” said Amirul, a 23-year-old nursing student at National University.
“And even though we compete here in the country, we all represent the Philippines as one and I’m rooting for everyone,” she added.
But there is a catch for this year’s qualifiers as Amirul and Isagan, same with the other squads, wouldn't know their last two teammates yet as it is going to be determined via rankings. It applies as well in the PCL Finals.
“Toby’s Sports is proud to power the PCL Philippines and to stand behind our athletes as they defend the nation’s title on the Asian stage,” said Toby Claudio, president of Toby’s Sports.
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