Fil-Am Pickler Lauren Mercado to Visit Philippines, Share Pickleball Prowess at SM Active Hub

We’ve all heard of tennis players turning to pickleball, right? Anna Clarice Patrimonio, one of the Philippines’ best bet in pickleball, is Exhibit A.

But have you ever heard of a basketball player giving up hoops and pivoting to pickleball?

That’s exactly the case with Filipino-American Lauren Mercado, to whom basketball was life. But life (read: the pandemic) got in the way of Mercado’s hoops dreams. Instead of sulking and giving up sports altogether, the young Fil-Am tried out pickleball. It started with casual games with her dad. It then spiraled into a full-blown obsession.

Still just 17, Lauren Mercado is electrifying the pickleball world. Forget those dusty “it’s just for titos and titas” vibes – Lauren, who had zero tennis experience, went from her first tournament win in 2021 to battling the titans in the PPA, APP, and USA Pickleball by 2023. She’s also racked up quite a few accolades and achievements in a little over four years.

Take a look:

Pro & Open-Level Results

Top 16 Finishes – Multiple APP Pro events (Sacramento, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, New York, Cincinnati, SoCal)

1st Place – Women’s Pro at the 2024 Canada-USA Challenge

3rd Place – Mixed Pro at the 2024 APP English Open

1st Place – Mixed Open at the 2024 PNW Classic & Frontier Days Bend

3rd Place – Women’s Doubles at the 2024 Hawaii Open 

Emerging Pro-Level Results

3rd Overall – 2024 APP NextGen Dallas & APP NextGen St. Louis

1st Place – 2023 USA Pickleball Mixed Doubles National Champion

1st Place – 5.0 Mixed Doubles (Mountain Regionals), 5.0 Women’s Doubles (Utah Shootout)

At the tender age of 17 years old, Lauren is just getting started.

Lauren Mercado Gives Back to the Filipino Pickleball Community

In a few days, Lauren Mercado will be coming to the Philippines and give the Filipino pickleball community a treat. The young Filipina pickler is hitting up SM Active Hub to share her pickleball prowess and ignite the passion of the next generation of players.

Here’s Lauren’s full itinerary:

• April 11, 2025 – SM Mall of Asia: Brace yourselves for an electrifying day as Lauren goes to the SM Mall of Asia! Get the chance to meet and greet her in person and who knows? You just might snag a chance to play pickleball with her, too!
• April 12, 2025 – SM Megamall: Level up your own game with another high-energy clinic and captivating exhibition match. It’s your front-row seat to witness her exceptional skills and grab some insider pro tips.
• April 13, 2025 – SM Southmall, SM City Marikina, SM City Sta. Mesa, SM City Bicutan: Immerse yourselves in a fantastic Pickleball Clinic and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Keep your eyes peeled as the electrifying Lauren will also be making special appearances at the pickleball courts in these malls!

Get the Chance to Train with Lauren Mercado, Future Pickleball Star

Ready to get up close and personal with the future of pickleball and maybe even train with her? Well, sign up to be an SM Active Hub member through the SM Malls Online app! And if you sign up now, you can unlock some great perks: priority access to clinics, coveted Meet & Greet slots, and even exclusive Lauren Mercado merchandise!

Don’t let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away. Come witness the electrifying talent of Lauren Mercado and maybe, just maybe, discover your own inner pickleball champion.

See you on the courts in select SM Malls nationwide!