Anna Bright Embraces Filipino Culture in Manila Visit, Backs Country’s Push to Host PPA Tour Asia
Anna Bright came, she saw, and she tried the isaw. The world No. 2 wrapped up a jam-packed two-day visit to Manila on Monday and Tuesday, and it’s safe to say the Philippines left quite the impression on her.
Fresh Off Hong Kong, Straight Into Fan Frenzy
Just days after winning the Women’s Doubles title with Anna Leigh Waters, herself a former Manila visitor just recently, at the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam, the 43-time PPA Tour titlist spent two days around Metro Manila visiting local pickleball communities, retail shops and facilities. Her itinerary ended with a meet-and-greet at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on Tuesday, where the crowd was waiting.
Bright broke the ice right away, sending the room into a frenzy with a shout of “Mabuhay! Salamat Manila! Salamat Pilipinas!”
She then fully leaned into the local flavour. Bright slipped on a traditional pink Filipiniana bolero and happily shared that she had already tried street food favourites like isaw and sisig. Not bad for a first visit.
“The Filipino pickleball community here has been so, so, so incredible,” she said. “I knew how much everyone loved pickleball here, but the warm welcome, the culture, the desire to kind of share your culture with me… I’m so excited to be here in front of everyone today.”
Why Asia Could Outgrow the US, According to Anna Bright
Asked about the sport’s explosion across the region, Anna Bright didn’t hold back. She sees Asia as a huge spectator market, one that could even grow faster than the United States, where other long-established sports already dominate.
“But here you have courts in malls, and there’s tons of people watching,” she explained.
The numbers back her up. According to DUPR’s latest 12-month user growth data, the Philippines recorded a 1,213 percent increase in DUPR users, the fastest-growing pickleball market in the world.
Bright also took time to share a lesson with the young Filipina athletes in the crowd who may be nervous about taking risks on court. “Failing is part of the process, failing, losing, these are all normal parts of life, but it doesn’t have to mean that you’re not going to get back up,” she said.
Setting the Stage for Manila in 2027
The visit was also a launchpad. Anna Bright’s presence officially announced the country’s first-ever hosting of the PPA Asia Tour—the Manila Open on 24–28 February to be held at the Helios SPARC facility in Pasig City.
The rights were secured by Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. (KAVC), whose mission is to build a sports ecosystem of recreational spaces, shared community experiences and a sports destination hub that puts the Philippines on the global sports map.
For Richard Bachmann, former Philippine Sports Commission chairman and now KAVC’s Head of Operations, having a global star in Manila is a monumental boost. “Before, andaming mga Pilipino that will go to Vietnam, Malaysia, just to play in the PPA,” he said. “But now, they don’t have to fly over. It’s here, we’re bringing the PPA for them.”
The Venue Behind the Event
Helios SPARC will feature 14 professional-grade courts, including a championship centre court built for about 1,000 spectators, and will be operated by KAVC. It’s only the first of two planned premium sports hubs in Bridgetowne. By 2028, Helios Pickleball Manila is slated to rise as another landmark, with 25 professional-grade courts and a championship centre court seating 2,000.
For a country whose fans have long had to travel abroad to catch the tour, the home leg can’t come soon enough.
