One of Mindanao’s most anticipated festivals is adding a new event to its lineup this June—and it comes with a paddle.
The Duaw Dabaw Festival is introducing its first-ever Pickleball Tournament this year, bringing the fast-rising paddle sport to athletes and enthusiasts aged 18 and above from Davao City and neighboring municipalities, provinces, and regions. It is a debut that reflects a simple truth: Davao is a sporting city, and its residents are hungry for new ways to compete.
Willenito P. Tormis Jr., City Tourism Operations Office officer-in-charge, said the festival deliberately went looking for fresh activities this year—and sport was always going to be at the center of it.
“For Duaw Dabaw this year, gi empower gyud nato nga maka come up og new activities, gitry gyud nato ang atoang best nga mag come up ta og new activities. So, ang isa sa atoang gi focus is ang sport because we believe na ang mga tao karon, grabe na ka sporty. So, we will introduce a new event which is the Duaw Dabaw pickle ball competition,” he said.
The Duaw Davao Pickleball Tournament is structured across three categories, each with its own eligibility requirements and DUPR rating bands. The Low Intermediate Category—covering men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles—is open exclusively to Davao City residents with DUPR ratings below 3.49. Proof of residency through a government-issued ID or barangay certificate with a Davao City address is required.
The High Intermediate Category opens the field to athletes from other cities and provinces, welcoming players rated between 3.50 and 3.99 across all three doubles formats. The Open Category, limited to men’s doubles, is also open to outside competitors and is designed for players rated between 4.0 and 4.5.
All participants must be medically and physically fit to compete and are required to sign a waiver declaring their health condition and assumption of risk. Those registering for the Low Intermediate Category should prepare their barangay certificates ahead of time. All registrants will need valid IDs for both players and screenshots of their DUPR accounts.
Pickleball has been growing rapidly across the Philippines, from university courts to festival grounds. Its debut at one of Davao’s flagship celebrations signals something straightforward: the sport has arrived in Mindanao, and the city is ready to play.
