Who would have thought that tennis and ping pong would merge to create one of the rising sports in the Philippines. From a niche activity in 2017 to a nationwide phenomenon in 2026, with 21,000 registered players according to the Philippine Pickleball Federation, Pickleball is definitely on the rise.
As more and more players discover the sport, United Pickleball Asia (UPA Asia) and Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corporation have signed an agreement to host the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour at the heart of Pasig. The signing was witnessed by Tom Nguyen, CEO of Asia Pacific for JOOLA, and Ramos Rivero, Chief Strategist and Head of Sustainability at Robinsons Land Corporation.
The partnership’s first project is the Helios Pickleball Center—Asia’s first tournament-grade pickleball facility. With its international groundbreaking launch in July 2025, the facility is promised to seat a total of 2,000 guests and 25 professional-grade pickleball courts. Co-developed by Robinsons Land Corp and Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp, the facility aims to position itself as a premier training and tournament venue upon its opening in 2027.
“In the years to come, we will look back on this day as the day when everything started, not just in the Philippines, but the revolution of pickleball in Southeast Asia, in Asia, and the globalization of the sport,” shared Kimberly Koh, Managing Director of UPA Asia, in a statement.
Stay updated with upcoming developments at pickleball.com.