Core Memory Unocked: Anna Leigh Waters Gives 11-Year-Old Gabe Ocampo Encounter of a Lifetime
Some kids dream of meeting their heroes. Gabe Ocampo got to hit a ball with hers.
The 11-year-old Filipina, a multi-medallist in the Philippine Pickleball League’s 13-and-under division, played an exhibition point with world No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters during a fan event at Decathlon Philippines in Pasig City on 13 October. Per the organisers themselves, it was a dream fulfilled.
One Point, One Lasting Memory
The occasion was an Asia Showcase featuring Anna Leigh Waters and sports brand Franklin Sports. Fans got to meet the American star and her mother and coach, Leigh Waters, have paddles and photo cards autographed, and get a preview of an upcoming Franklin Sports paddle.
And then there was Gabe. For a young player who has already collected medals on the local circuit, a single point against the sport’s top-ranked player is the sort of moment that sticks. Decathlong Philippines didn’t provide a quote or insights from Gabe herself, so we can only guess at what it meant to her. But it’s not hard to picture a kid who’ll be telling this story for years.
For Waters, who recently secured her 200th PPA Tour title at 19, it was a small gesture with a big return. She has become pickleball royalty in record time, and sharing the court with a young fan is one way she turns that status into something more than trophies.
Anna Leigh Waters also used the event to speak to anyone still on the fence about the sport. “If you are growing up and wondering if you should try pickleball or not, I would say give it a shot because I was one of the haters before I started playing,” she said. “I just played one time, and the first time I hit the ball, I knew that this was something I would love to continue doing.”
Her message was simple. “There’s room for anybody to play pickleball because pickleball is so inclusive,” she added.
A Showcase Packed with Personalities
The event also drew personalities from sports and entertainment, including celebrity Vern Ong, beauty queen Alethea Ambrosio, and professional volleyball player Ced Domingo.
Jessica de Leon-Ramos, Decathlon Philippines’ country marketing and communications leader, said Waters’ visit could inspire Filipino players, particularly women, whether they’re new to the sport or looking to improve. “Movement can begin anywhere, any time,” she said, adding that if fans found it through seeing their favourite athlete in person, “we can be very proud.”
Why Moments Like This Matter
The showcase comes as pickleball continues to gain attention in the Philippines, where young players are increasingly starting to compete. For a country building a pipeline of talent, there may be no better motivation than seeing the best player in the world up close, and, in Gabe’s case, sharing a rally with none other than the one, the only, Anna Leigh Waters.
Indeed, trophies fade, rankings change, but a point played against the world No. 1 is the kind of memory that could carry a young player a long way.
