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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Pickleball comes full circle in Cebu as Rising Stars seek Asia stage

Pickleball comes full circle in Cebu as Rising Stars seek Asia stage

Published Mar 10, 2026 01:59 pm

At A Glance

  • Pickleball returns to its Philippine roots starting today (Wednesday) as the Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026 fires off at the Net and Paddle courts in Cebu City, gathering a banner field of young standouts and seasoned competitors in a five-day celebration of one of the country's fastest-growing sports.
PCL Asia founder Steve Kuhn (second from left) holds a paddle and pickleball with (from left) Kosmas Operations Director Richard Bachmann, head referee Gigi Maceda, and tournament director Cesar Guinto during Tuesday’s launch of the Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026 in Cebu City.
PCL Asia founder Steve Kuhn (second from left) holds a paddle and pickleball with (from left) Kosmas Operations Director Richard Bachmann, head referee Gigi Maceda, and tournament director Cesar Guinto during Tuesday’s launch of the Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026 in Cebu City.
Pickleball returns to its Philippine roots starting today (Wednesday) as the Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026 fires off at the Net and Paddle courts in Cebu City, gathering a banner field of young standouts and seasoned competitors in a five-day celebration of one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.
Organized by Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. and Sunrise Events, Inc., the tournament serves as both a competitive battleground and a development platform aimed at discovering and nurturing the next generation of Filipino pickleball talents.
Action begins with the Novice division before the tournament intensifies with matches in the Low Intermediate, High Intermediate and Open categories over the next three days. The event culminates with the centerpiece Rising Stars U19 Sectional Tournament on March 14-15, where the region’s most promising junior players will battle for a coveted ticket to the Asian stage.
While the U19 division takes the spotlight, the adult categories promise intense rivalries in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles – further proof of the sport’s rapidly expanding reach across all age groups.
For details, visit the official Pickle Fest 2026 page.
The tournament is supported by Milo, Summit and Pocari Sweat, as organizers continue their push to bring pickleball deeper into the Philippine sporting mainstream.
More than just another stop on the expanding pickleball calendar, the Cebu leg holds special symbolic value. It was in Cebu where pickleball was first introduced to the Philippines during a clinic in 2016. After 10 years, the sport has flourished across the country, now counting more than 320 registered clubs and a fast-growing grassroots community.
Backed by PCL Asia, the Rising Stars U19 tournament provides young athletes with a structured pathway toward international competition. Winners from the sectional qualifiers earn the opportunity to compete in the PCL Asia Grand Finals scheduled this April on Hainan Island, China.
The pathway offers more than medals. It delivers standardized competition, regional exposure and cross-border matchups designed to accelerate the development of Asia’s next generation of pickleball stars.
The recent Davao leg highlighted the rising depth of Filipino talent.
Team Velaris – composed of Shesha Bree Biñas, Chrystelle Marjh Elisan, Izzy Lacida and Jacob Cagas – outlasted the SABR squad in a gripping 23–21 championship thriller at Pickletown, securing the gold medal and a berth in the Asia Grand Finals.
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