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 providing the first portable net, paddles and balls.

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 in the streets of Ortigas Center, Pasig.

2019

January
Street pickleball eventually expanded to four courts with as many as 20-30 players joining the weekly 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 initial organisation as the "Philippine Pickleball Sports Association, Inc" (PPSA).

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

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

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

July
PPSA hosted a second 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 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 our second national tournament sponsored by UAP Manila Maharlika, the Philippine Architects Pickleball Association (PAPA) and the Philippine Pickleball Federation (PPF).

December
PPF hosted our 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 Mike Johnson was elected to serve a two-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 our 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 is 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 is 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 visits 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 is held at the RBE Covered Court in Rosales, Pangasinan. The event is 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 is the site of another referee clinic. Our President trains 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 attracts nearly 200 players from all around central Luzon.

March
Lagro is the site of another tournament in March, the first NCR Open Tournament hosting players from Asingan, Rosales and a number surrounding cities.

Pickleball pioneers celebrate the fourth anniversary of "Street Pickleball" on Emerald Avenue in Ortigas Center, Pasig. Where they still play Saturday evenings from 6-10 pm. (weather permitting)

April
PPF Dir of Grassroots Devt, Col Ed Mendoza takes pickleball to Boracay. In Rosales, the newly painted four court venue is host to another Mayors Cup 2022.
May
In May the newly formed "Unify Pickleball Task Force" held its first meeting in an effort to bring the IFP and WPF together to form a single, unified governing body.

Pickleball magazine publishes an article about our efforts to unify the sport into a single governing body and put an end to years of wrangling between the two international governing bodies.

UPTF founding members include Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Mexico, the Philippines, Spain and the United States of America. 
June
In June World Pickleball Ambassador Rodel Chiu organizes the 2022 "Philippine Pickleball Tour" and travels around the country to host clinics and playdates in a number of cities from Baguio in the north to Cebu in the South.

​A number of Phil-Am players visit in June to host demos and clinics in central Philippines in what was billed "Pickleball Fever". Including Shanna Upperman (host of FB page Pickleball Philippines), John Babon, Ken Cuaderno and Dalta DuMond among others.
July
Certified Referee Gigi Maceda holds a special webinar to teach the basics of pickleball officiating. PPF President Mike Johnson visits Gigi in Palm Deseret, California during the last leg of his 10 city, 2022 USA tour.

The PPF revises its constitution in July to include provisions for mediation and arbitration as required by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee. In 2021 we applied for membership to the Philippine Olympic Committee and hope to receive approval of our application to be the National Sports Association (NSA) for the sport of pickleball within the next few months. (fingers crossed) 
August
In August PPF is invited by Palawan State University to join a sports clinic for PE teachers and coaches who will be introducing pickleball into their various sports programs at a dozen universities.

Stella Lavy and Mae Brown conduct a webinar to teach skill definitions to help new Filipino players assess themselves as they begin to compete in tournaments and participate in competitive play.
September
PPF launches a Club Logo contest in September to encourage pickleball clubs to create their own logos and join our nationwide Club Directory. PPF receives daily inquiries from visiting players asking where to play, so the online directory and forthcoming website upgrade will make it easier for visitors to find and connect with local organizations and schedule play during their local travels.
October
It's official.. after more than two years our legal name change from the "Philippine Pickleball Sports Association" to "Philippine Pickleball Federation" is finally approved by the SEC.

Our membership has now grown to over 40 clubs nationwide. We began planning our first post-covid tournament, the "2022 PPF Invitational" with over 150 players representing 22 clubs. 
November
The 2022 PPF Invitational Tournament was held in "The Zone Sports Center" in Makati on 6 beautiful indoor courts... now the new home of the PPF. Over 160 players from 23 clubs competed for medals, cash and bragging rights. The PPF wishes to thanks all organizers, sponsors, the media and press for their great work in organizing and promoting this great event.
December
December was a very busy month for pickleball including the Bainbridge Cup in Mumbai, India; the LGU Inter Agency tournament in Asingan; the Rosales Invitational tournament in Rolsales; the Tayug Year-End tournament in Tayug, the Pickleball Marathon tournament in Moalboal, Cebu and countless others all around the archipelago. We end 2023 with a bang and are excited to move past the pandemic to see our sport flourishing again. Thanks to everyone for supporting our Philippine Pickleball Federation!

2023

January
PPF Academy continues its busy schedule of clinics and training activities, including this one with the UAP Las Piñas chapter of Maharlika, in collaboration with the Philippine Architects Pickleball Association (PAPA) and the UAP Manila Maharlika. 

On January 12, the Makati Pickleball Club inaugurated a new play venue at the Poblacion Covered court in Makati City, adding yet another play venue to our growing list of NCR courts.
February
​A Pre-Valentine tournament was held in Rosales, Pangasinan with over 100 players joining from Rosales and Asingan, Pangasinan, as well as players from a number of NCR clubs and foreign visitors.
March
​Some 22 players from 7 different PPF clubs joined the 2023 Asia Pickleball Open tournament  in Phuket, Thailand. Many fantastic matches were played and the Philippine Team brought home a total of 21 medals, 7 Gold, 7 Silver and 7 Bronze.

Stay tuned for recent events as we update our history page quarterly.

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