About Us

Our journey began in early 2016, when the first pickleball clinics were conducted in Cebu by Onix professional, Sara Ash. In the years since, hundreds of clinics and dozens of tournaments have been conducted and the sport is now played daily by thousands of enthusiastic players nationwide.

On April 15, 2019, the Philippine Pickleball Sports Association (PPSA) was established to begin formally organizing the sport. Six months later PPSA began doing business as the Philippine Pickleball Federation (PPF) and was recognized by the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) as the national sports association (NSA) for the Philippines. (https://www.ifpickleball.org/)

Although the 2020 pandemic stalled all tournaments and halted most play, it did not slow our efforts to organise the sport regionally. We teamed up with a number of our regional neighbors to organise the first continental federation under the direction of the IFP, and today are recognised as a founding member of the Asian Federation of Pickleball or AFP. (https://www.afpickleball.org/)

For our complete chronological history, goto ABOUT > HISTORY, or click here.​

PPF Ambassador, Sara Ash conducting pickleball clinics in Cebu, Philippines on February 11 and 13, 2016.

Our Affiliations

International Federation of Pickleball
​(Full Member)

https://www.ifpickleball.org/

Asia Federation of Pickleball
​(Founding Member)

https://www.afpickleball.org/

Our Vision

The Philippine Pickleball Federation (PPF) is a non-profit sports organization, dedicated to promoting, supporting, and organizing the sport of pickleball in the Philippines, the Asia Pacific region and around the world. We seek to help and work with all legitimate pickleball organizations without favor or bias.

Our Mission

To promote and organize pickleball, by conducting clinics for players, coaches and officials and organizing local, national and regional tournaments; and identifying potential world-class players and coaches and supporting their development through our programs for national players and coaches.

Our Team

Michael Johnson ("Mike")
President

Mike is a commercial helicopter pilot, entrepreneur and businessman. He is an IFP World Pickleball Ambassador, Certified Pickleball Instructor, Secretary General of the Singapore based Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP) and Secretary of the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). Mike also co-Chairs the IFP rules committee serving with a diverse group of international figures and certified referees to plot the future of pickleball through the evolution of an international rulebook and approved set of equipment standards. 

Armand Tantoco
Treasurer

​Arman is a licensed architect, entrepreneur and sportsman. He is a former United Architects of the Phils. Manila Maharlika Chapter President, UAP District B2 Director and Quezon City Capitol Jaycees President. Armand is a former Toastmaster who enjoys fishing, bowling, badminton and pickleball. Armand currently serves as PPF Treasurer and is the designated PPF Membership Director on the Asian Federation of Pickleball (AFP) executive committee. He is also an IFP Certified Pickleball instructor.

Giselle Cabrera
​​Corporate Secretary

Before her retirement, Giselle held management positions in both the hotel and telecoms industries in the United States, Hong Kong and the Philippines. She was introduced to pickleball in 2020 at a community center in Arizona USA. Despite the lockdown, Giselle picked up the sport in East Village, Cainta where she first met the PPF Board of Directors. Today she is an IFP Certified Pickleball Instructor who resides in Parañaque City. Giselle is excited to play, share and promote pickleball in the Philippines and to her many friends and contacts abroad.

Jeffrey Kho ("Jeff")
​Tournament Director

​Jeffrey is a licensed architect specializing in modular and organic designs. He is an entrepreneur and technology consultant with 35 years experience in software development in the Philippines and the United States. Jeffrey enjoys writing novels (available at Amazon), photography, automotive design and boutique production. He is an IFP Certified Pickleball Instructor and experienced tournament director and currently serves as PPF Tournament Director on the Asian Federation of Pickleball (AFP) executive committee.

Edgardo Mendoza ("Colonel Ed")
Grass Roots Development

Col Ed is a retired PNP officer serving as Chief of Staff, Narcotics Command; Northern Police, District Commander; Chief of Intellingence, National Police Commission; Provincial Director of Aklan PPO; Chief of Police, Cainta PS; and Binangonan Police Station. He is an avid sportsman, Senior Golf Professional-Teaching Pro, who also enjoys tennis, table tennis, sports Judo, and practical shooting, Ed holds a Masters Degree in National Security Admnistration from the National Defense College and is an IFP Certified Pickleball Instructor. 

Federico Costales ("Bro Costy")
Training and Academy

Brother Costy is a great fan of sport. He started with basketball as a teen, then picked up tennis in his early 20s. Years ago he transitioned to table tennis and setup the Rosales Table Tennis Club. He recently discovered pickleball while visiting his daughter in the US and has not looked back. Today, Brother Costy has a pickleball court in his back yard, is an IFP Pickleball Ambassador and an IFP Certified Pickleball Instructor. He actively organizes and conducts regular clinics and tournaments and now has seven pickleball clubs in his municipality.

Vittorio Pozon ("Thor")
Membership and Benefits

​"Mighty Thor" has been a DJ and station manager for 99.5 RT and a professional voice talent and event emcee for many years. He studied Fine Arts at UST and is an avid badminton player. Thor was one of the very first players to try pickleball in the Philippines and was instrumental in the initial popularity of the sport. Today Thor is an IFP Certified Instructor who plays regularly and participates in frequent pickleball clinics and tournaments. Although semi-retired, he continues to produce commercials and is active in the Catholic Church.

Sara Ash
Trustee, PPF Ambassador

​Sara is a professional pickleball player and member of Team Onix. Originally from Cebu, Philippines "the Enegizer Bunny" now lives and plays out of Phoenix, Arizona. Sara medaled in her very first tournament back in 2015 and has won and medaled in over 125 local, regional and national tournaments since. Sara introduced pickleball to the PPF founders and conducted our very first clinics in 2016. Today Sara remains a member of the Board of Directors and is proudly supporting our efforts to grow the sport here in her home country.

Atty. Victor Santos ("Atty. Vic")
Legal Council

Atty. Vic graduated Magna Cum Laude (Valedictorian) in Law from the University of Manila. He has been practicing law since 1957 and is a former Partner of Siguion, Reyna, Montecillo and Ongsiako Law Office. Atty. Vic now manages his own law practice and has been the legal counsel and founding Board Member of the Philippine Pickleball Federation (PPF) since it was formally established back in 2019. He currently serves as PPF legal council and as PPF Legal Director on the Asian Federation of Pickleball (AFP) executive committee.

Sabrina DuMond
Sec Gen Emeritus, PPF Ambassador

Sabrina is a USA Pickleball ranked player and former Group Director of AT&T. She holds a B.S. Degree from the University of San Fransisco and has extensive experience organizing tournaments and conducting pickleball clinics. Sabrina served as Secretary General for the Philippine Pickleball Federation from its inception thru 2020, when she relocated back to the United States as a result of the corona virus pandemic. Although she no longer resides on the Philippines, Sabrina remains a staunch supporter of the PPF and our various initiatives.

Romualdo Dumuk ("Red")
Special Liaison Officer

​​Red is an icon in Philippine sport. For over 40 years he has been involved in 30 different sports in varying capacities. He recently served as the IT and telecomms director for the 30th SEA games and 10th ASEAN Para Games. He is a former Secretary General of NFs of Gymnastics, Weightlifting, Triathlon, Wrestling, Muaythai, Kickboxing, Tarung Derajat and Darts; and Vice President of Football. We are delighted to have Red on our team to help establish pickleball in the Philippines and bring the sport to the SEA Games and onto the Olympics.