Our History

The Philippine Pickleball Federation is grateful to the many personalities who have helped us establish pickleball in the Philippines. Below is a brief look at our history including some of our activities, events and milestones.  Sadly much of our older historical information has been deleted by Facebook censorship robots, but you can still review our history here and visit our Facebook Group page www.facebook.com for more.

2016

February
The first known pickleball clinic was held in Cebu by Sara Ash, professional pickleball player from Team Onix. Sara introduced pickleball to the PPF founders in February 2016.

2017

June
The first established play venue was the LDS Church on Buendia Avenue in Makati. The founders played there regularly until street pickleball was established the following year.

2018

February
The founders registered the domain www.picklebal.ph and setup the first Facebook page as the "Philippine Pickleball Association". 

April
The founders began playing street pickleball in Ortigas Center, Pasig every Saturday evening from 7 to 11.

October
After 30 weeks the street pickleball program had become very popular, as more and more first timers came out to play.

2019

January
Street pickleball eventually expanded to four courts with as many as 20-30 players joining the Saturday evening playdates.

March
IFP World Ambassador Manny Bagtas conducted the first pickleball street clinic in Ortigas Center, Pasig.

April
The founders registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, but were denied the use of "Philippine Pickleball Association", so registered the organisation as the "Philippine Pickleball Sports Association, Inc" (PPSA).

April
PPSA hosted their second clinic and first inter-club tournament at the Upper Deck Sports Club in Pasig.

April
PPSA helped friends from the Philippine Pickleball Association and Solinco conduct a clinic and tournament at the University of Santo Tomas.

May
PPSA hosted a pickleball clinic at PowerSmash badminton center in Makati.

July
PPSA hosted another clinic and tournament at the Upper Deck Sports Club in Pasig.

July
PPSA donated nets to Solinco and joined a tournament hosted by the Philippine Pickleball Association.

July
PPSA applied to the Philippine SEC to change its name to the "Philippine Pickleball Federation", (PPF) and applied to the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) to be recognized as the National Sports Association for the Philippines.

August
PPF established a new play venue at One Serendra in Bonifacio Global City.

August
PPF established a new play venue at The Upper Deck (TUD) Sports Club in Pasig.

September
PPF became an Associate member of the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP), the world governing body of the sport of pickleball.

September
PPF established a new play venue in Fairview, Quezon City.

September
PPF established a new play venue at Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF) In Pasig.

October
PPF hosted a Referee Clinic with IFP World Ambassador and Certified Referee Gigi Maceda at One Serendra in Bonifacio Global City.

November
PPF assisted friends at the Professional Pickleball Association of the Philippines (formerly Philippine Pickleball Association) with a pickleball clinic in Iba, Zambales.

November
PPF established a new play venue in Corinthian Gardens, Quezon City.

November
PPF supported a pickleball clinic in Valenzuela hosted by IFP World Ambassador, Rodel Chiu.

November
PPF hosted a pickleball clinic for friends in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa.

December
PPF hosted their second national tournament sponsored by UAP Manila Maharlika, the Philippine Architects Pickleball Association (PAPA) and the Philippine Pickleball Federation (PPF).

December
PPF hosted their first Christmas party with representatives from all known Philippine pickleball clubs.

2020

January
PPF joined forces with regional neighbors Singapore, Taiwan, India, South Korea and Japan to form the Asian Federation of Pickleball (AFP).

January
PPF hosted Mens World Champion Scott Moore for a pickleball clinic in Corinthian Gardens, Quezon City.

February
The PPF street pickleball program became more popular than ever after 100 consecutive weeks of play on the streets of Ortigas Center, Pasig.. 

March
Street pickleball continued with precautions as the corona virus hit the Philippines.

March
PPF became a founding member of the Asian Federation of Pickleball (AFP), the first continental federation under the IFP. The PPF President was elected to serve a 2-year term as AFP Secretary General.

March
After months of preparation, a five city clinic roadshow was cancelled the day before it was scheduled, due to the corona virus outbreak.

May
PPF launched a new website. www.pickleball.ph. Including an interactive map, directories of pickleball ambassadors, local pickleball clubs, with online apps to apply for membership, apply for training and submit reviews.

July
PPF helped establish a new play venue at Village East Executive Homes in Cainta. Village members later formed the Pickleball East Dinkers Club, Inc., (PEDCI).

July
PPF participated in a privately sponsored tournament hosted by the Pickleball East Dinkers Club (PEDCI) with members of Planet Sports, Lagro Pickleball Assn. and the Ortigas Pickleball Assn.

December
PPF participated in the Lagro Invitational tournament with members of the Pickleball East Dinkers Club (PEDCI), Planet Sports and members of the Ortigas Pickleball Assn.

2021

January
PPF sponsored the Rosales pickleball clinic and Regional Tournament in Rosales, Pangasinan.

February
PPF is invited to assist and participate in the first Asingan Pickleball tournament organized by the Asingan Pickleball Club.

February
PPF conducted it's second Referee Clinic in Cainta, at Village East Executive Homes.

February
PPF conducted a half day pickleball clinic for members of the LDS Church on Buendia Avenue in Makati.

March
PPF sponsored and participated in the first Lagro rotational pickleball tournament.

March
PPF published the first Philippine Club Directory and first Philippine Ambassador Directory to help local clubs coordinate with one another and make it easier for inbound visitors to contact a local pickleball Ambassador or play group.

April
At the 2021 Annual General Membership meeting, the PPF expanded its Board of Directors from 5 to 9 seats and adopted a new Constitution, in support of the Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP) under the direction of the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP).

April
PPF is granted FULL MEMBER status by the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP). Making the Philippines only the 6th country (out of 46 IFP member countries) to attain Full Member status.

May
After being unpublished by Facebook robots three times, PPF will now document and store its own history right here on the PPF website, so it can be protected from Facebook AI censorship or unpublishing without review.   

The IFP announces that the PPF President, Mike Johnson, has accepted a position on the IFP Board of Directors, serving as the new IFP Secretary. 

June
AFP issues a Certificate of Membership to the Philippine Pickleball Federation in recognition of our founding member support.

PPF produces it's first batch of low cost paddles for donation to select start-up clubs. The PPF was awarded a cash grant by the IFP to produce and distribute low-cost paddles, balls and nets.
July
Fourteen new IFP Certified Pickleball Instructors are trained and certified.

PPF adds a Certified Instructor Directory to the website, so players can easily find and connect with qualified trainers. 
August
PPF was invited by the US Embassy to participate in a five week "Summer Sportsfest" held at the US Embassy Seafront Compound in Manila. Over 50 US Embassy personnel and their family members learned how to play pickleball and participated in a series of games and drills led by IFP Certified pickleball instructors.
August
In August we began shipping PPF pickleball starter kits to select Philippine play groups, to help them get started and grow the sport domestically. Kits include 24 balls and 10 paddles, and will soon include a portable net system.

The PPF also produced our first IFP branded composite pickleball paddles in both PP+fiberglass and PP+carbon fibre configurations for worldwide distribution under the newly created IFP equipment grant program.

September
PPF attended the 2nd annual Adobowl in Texas, USA promoting Philippine pickleball and offering attendees our most popular PPF color jerseys and "Philippine Pickleball" paddles.

(L) Mike Johnson with IFP Ambassadors and Philippine Pickleball Icons Jenny Marcos and Rodel O'Chiu. (R) IFP Directors Ron Ponder (Ambassadors), Mike McCown​ (Grants) and Mike Johnson (IFP Secretary) meet the following day at the Texas Open.

October
In October the 2021 Pickleball Invitational Tournament was held in Lagro, Quezon City. Dozens of players joined the event with television coverage provided by PTV-4.

PPF Director and Event host Colonel Ed Mendoza opened the event and encouraged all players to enjoy the day of sport.
November
Our President visited the Moalboal Pickleball Association (L) in Moalboal, Cebu and the Santander Pickleball Club (R) in Sanboan (south), Cebu, to play with and support new new clubs forming in central Visayas.

The 1st annual RUSAC Pickleball Tournament was held at the RBE Covered Court in Rosales, Pangasinan. The event was organized by Bro. Costy and the United Stars Athletic Club.
December
As pickleball continues to grow, so does our list of visiting players hosting clinics and tournaments. This month Ken Cuaderno visits from Nashville, Tennessee to host clinics in Asingan, Rosales and Lagro, QC.

Up in Asingan, Pangasinan the first inter-barangay, inter-agency MAYORS CUP Pickleball Tournament kicked off with over a hundred players joining the opening ceremony hosted by Mayor Lopez and attended by a number of PPF Directors and supporters.

2022

January
The new year brought back street pickleball, as Pasig City reinstated Carless Weekends after 18 months due to strict covid-19 social distancing restrictions.

Although the Federation now has thousands of players nationwide, street pickleball remains a favorite amongst many in Metro Manila, as we still lack play venues. 

February
Lagro was the site of another referee clinic. Our President trained a dozen new referees to prepare them for up coming tournaments in Metro Manila.

The 2022  APC Open, hosted by the Asingan Paddlers Pickleball club attracted nearly 200 players from all around central Luzon.
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