The town of Alfonso, Cavite, has officially introduced its squad—to be known as Alfonso Siklab—for the inaugural leg of the Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour (MPPT), which begins on 3 October 2026 in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The announcement came during a contract signing ceremony at Villa Merci in Barangay Esperanza Ibaba, attended by Alfonso Mayor and team owner Randy Salamat alongside team manager Keng Gaspar.
Alfonso Siklab Men’s and Women’s Teams Named
The men’s roster features international tennis and pickleball champion Kim Sazara—better known as “Picklebear”—alongside Red Directo, Al Quiza, and homegrown talent Matthew Lao.
On the women’s side, the team will field Medelene Sazara, Novi Melendez, Cindy Nuguit, and local standout Dania Lee Abjuela. Melendez is a decorated athlete and coach, while Nuguit captains the Perpetual Help Altas soft tennis and lawn tennis squads and serves as a brand ambassador for Decathlon Philippines.
Mayor Salamat explained that the squad was formed through a series of tryouts to ensure the strongest possible line‑up. Gaspar added that training is already underway at the Villa Merci pickleball courts.
“We will treat them like family,” Salamat said, noting that the team will also help promote Alfonso by visiting local businesses and showcasing the town’s charm.
Part of a Nationwide Tour
The Alfonso Siklab Pickleball Team joins 11 other founding squads in the MPPT, a new league spearheaded by Manny Pacquiao. Teams from Abra, Batangas, Bangued, Bacoor, Camarines Norte, General Santos City, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pampanga, Rizal, and Tacloban will also compete.
Pacquiao described the tour as more than a competition, positioning it as a platform to grow pickleball nationwide and provide Filipino athletes with a professional stage. Commissioner Mark Espinosa echoed that vision, calling the launch the start of a new chapter for the sport in the Philippines.
The MPPT’s first leg runs from 3 to 4 October in Angeles, with five legs scheduled through the year. The top eight teams will advance to December’s final phase, where the inaugural champions will be crowned.
For Alfonso, the unveiling of its roster is not just about sport—it is about community pride, local identity, and joining a national movement to put pickleball firmly on the Philippine sporting map.
