MANILA — The Philippines is positioning itself as a potential Asian pickleball hub with the development of a world-class facility in Pasig City capable of hosting major international tournaments.
Targeted for completion in 2028, the Helios Pickleball Center will feature 25 tournament-standard courts and a 2,000-seat center court designed to accommodate events sanctioned by the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP).
Former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Dickie Bachmann said the project could give the country an immediate foothold in one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.
“We have seen the sudden rise of the sport in the country and we are aware of new courts appearing everywhere,” Bachmann said during the signing of a partnership for the project on Tuesday.
“If we can sustain this popularity for a new sport like pickleball, maybe we can also give the Philippines an instant foothold in the sport worldwide,” added Bachmann, head of operations of Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corporation (KAVC).
The project formally took shape after KAVC signed a partnership agreement with Robinsons Land and US-based Johns Design and Consulting (JDC) at Atleta 63, Inc. in Bridgetowne, Pasig City.
Bachmann said the planned center would serve as a venue for international competitions and as a training and recreational facility for elite athletes and casual players.
The complex will also be designed according to international broadcast standards and is expected to become the first of several similar facilities that KAVC plans to develop across the country.
Under the agreement, JDC will provide technical consulting, architectural design and facility planning to ensure the center meets international requirements.
JDC co-founder Collin Johns, a 35-time PPA doubles champion, said the Philippines has the potential to emerge as a premier pickleball destination in the region.
“Pickleball is experiencing explosive growth globally, and the Philippines is poised to become a major hub for the sport in Asia,” Johns said. “Our goal is to ensure facilities are built with precise technical standards—from court surfaces and lighting to player flow.”
KAVC President Kim Lapus said the partnership with JDC reinforced the company’s commitment to developing world-class sports infrastructure for athletes and the broader sporting community./PN
