Toby’s Sports CEO Sees Bright Pickleball Future in PH After Successful Staging of SM Pickleball Super Series
There’s really no denying that pickleball is big now in the Philippines. And if the latest and final installment of the SM Pickleball Super Series proves anything, it’s that pickleball will only grow bigger in the Pearl of the Orient.
In fact, the third and final leg of the SM Pickleball Super Series drew 30 teams in the novice, intermediate, and advance division—even with a step entry fee of ₱6,000. It’s no wonder Toby’s Sports, the largest sports store brand in the Philippines, is anticipating a big and bright future for the sport.
“My estimate is that pickleball will become the biggest participation sport in the Philippines. It’s really booming worldwide, especially in other Asian countries,” Toby’s Sports CEO Toby Claudio told local broadsheet Daily Tribune in an interview after the successful staging of the SM Pickleball Super Series.
For the affable Claudio, pickleball growing by leaps and bounds isn’t even surprising at all.
“It’s no surprise because pickleball is really, really a fun sport to play and a sport for everyone. You can see now that so many people are having fun playing and watching,” he further said. “So, it’s really a great sport that I think even more Filipinos will discover in the next few months, and we hope that our tournament can help grow the sport as we bring it around.”
Indeed, pickleball is certainly growing in the Philippines, and Toby’s Sports and SM Malls have proven to be fantastic partners in bringing topflight pickleball competition to local picklers who are always on the lookout for tournaments and ways to play. SM Malls, in particular, have been opening up pickleball venues in its different malls nationwide, providing Filipino pickleball players world-class facilities to play the sport the love.
The SM Pickleball Super Series held its first leg at SM Megamall from 1 to 6 April 2025. Its second leg took place at the Mall of Asia from 19 to 25 May 2025.
