James Ignatowich has been watching pickleball grow in the Philippines—and he is not surprised by any of it.
“The rising popularity is crazy. I think it’s going to continue to rise even more,” the 25-year-old professional told reporters recently at an event at The Block Atrium, SM North EDSA. “It’s gotten even more popular. It gets better every time.”
Ignatowich was in Manila to launch RPM paddles, a brand he co-founded, but he made the most of his visit by joining the inaugural leg of the SM Pickleball Super Series on April 11–12 for a meet-and-greet session. Between appearances, he found time to do what he clearly enjoys just as much as competing — coaching.
He worked with local players on both their attacking and defensive games, and he was candid about why that kind of access matters more than it might seem.
“There’s not a lot of good coaches in pickleball yet because it’s so new,” he said. “Since there’s not a lot of good coaches, because it’s just getting started, I think the opportunity to get professional-level coaching is kind of premium.”
It is a global problem, not just a Philippine one. But Ignatowich’s answer to it is straightforward — and optimistic.
“It’s just going to happen the more people play. Because all the players right now that are getting better are going to be coaches next to you,” he said. “You got to just play longer because everybody just got started playing.”
He also hinted at a potential clinic in Manila—which, given the reception he received over the weekend, would not be short of participants.
Joining Ignatowich for the Super Series was Canadian National Champion and PPA Tour athlete Mackonner Dy, who took part in an exhibition match alongside Toby’s Sports president Toby Claudio and RPM ambassador Jessica Agr. The combination of professional players, local business figures, and a growing community of Filipino pickleball enthusiasts gave the event the kind of energy that makes Ignatowich’s optimism easy to understand.
The coaching gap is real, the infrastructure is still young, and the sport is still finding its structure in the Philippines. But when one of the world’s best players visits, engages, mentors, and talks about coming back—that is not nothing.
Philippine pickleball is going in one direction. Ignatowich thinks so too.
