Pickleball fever has well and truly reached Cavite. The Bacoor Strikers, already a familiar name in local sport, have now thrown their hat into the ring of this fast‑expanding discipline, unveiling a roster that will carry the city’s colours in competition.
The line‑up is split into two squads. Team A features Ricarte Santos, Vince EJ Tugade, Christy Sanosa, and Princess Lorben Marie Catindig. Team B, meanwhile, is composed of Laurenz Quitara, Kent Octavo, Elise Marie Geluz, Leykie Lei Sanosa, and Claro Castillo. Each brings a mix of youth, energy, and the kind of competitive edge that has made pickleball such an accessible yet demanding sport.
The official signing took place at Revilla Hall in the Bacoor Government Center, with Mayor Strike Revilla—team owner—present alongside Vice Mayor Rowena Bautista Mendiola and Councilor Karen Evaristo. Revilla stressed his commitment to supporting the Strikers, noting that the project is about more than just sport. It is about giving athletes a platform to compete, to represent Bacoor with pride, and to be part of a movement that is sweeping across the Philippines.
Pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has exploded in popularity worldwide in recent years. Its appeal lies in its simplicity: a smaller court, a perforated plastic ball, and paddles that demand quick reflexes and tactical nous rather than sheer power. In the Philippines, gyms and sports centres have embraced the game, and professional leagues are beginning to take shape.
For Bacoor, the Strikers’ entry into pickleball is both timely and symbolic. The city has long been associated with grassroots sport, and this latest venture signals its intent to stay at the forefront of new athletic trends. With the likes of Santos and Tugade leading Team A, and Quitara and Octavo anchoring Team B, the Strikers are positioning themselves not just to participate, but to compete seriously in the national scene.
Whether they can translate Bacoor’s sporting spirit into pickleball success remains to be seen. What is certain, though, is that the Strikers have added another chapter to the city’s sporting story—one that blends tradition with the energy of a new game on the rise.
