Level 2 Coach Rnell Arsenal Sees Pickleball ‘Exponentially Growing’ in Cebu, Philippines’ Queen City of the South

Pickleball in growing in the Philippines, and ground zero of this rise is obviously Metro Manila. But it is also becoming more and more popular in Cebu, which is also known as the “Queen City of the South.”

Actually, scratch that. Rnell Arsenal, a certified Level 2 pickleball coach, says pickleball is “exponentially growing.”

“The best way to describe it [pickleball] is not growing; it’s exponentially growing. There is a lot of facilities being used right now as courts. There are already dedicated venues for pickleballs, there are backyards, multi-use facilities, basketball courts converted into pickleball courts,” Arsenal told CDN Sports Talk, a popular sports show in Cebu. “There is a lot of communities now. Back when we started with one, there are now clubs and events.”

Rnell Arsenal Ushers in the Pickleball Revolution

Rnell Arsenal, incidentally, is one of prime movers of pickleball in Cebu. In fact, he and his wife were among the first in Cebu to play the sport way back in 2018. Only, it didn’t catch on to Cebuanos at that time. But things began to change when the Philippines—and the rest of the word, really—was put on lockdown due to COVID-19.  

“Way back before the pandemic, a common friend introduced pickleball to us. At that time, the sport didn’t click to many. Until the pandemic hit, wala mi nahimo, and then it started with me and my wife, we started playing the sport,” Arsenal narrated. “During that time, another coach would do video calls almost every night right from the United States until he came over and introduced us to some people, including an Italian based in Moalboal who has a pickleball court.”

Eventually, COVID faded and restrictions were eased. This allowed Arsenal and a small group of enthusiasts to start promoting pickleball across communities. They did so despite facing major challenges, notably the lack of venues and equipment. They even had to travel all the way to Moalboal just to find a proper court.

The trips and the persistence paid off. Pickleball at first was played mostly by expats in Cebu, but it slowly but surely grew into a community that cut across demographics. This community grew and grew and grew–and one big reason it continues to grow, according to Arsenal, is that pickleball is a social sport that is easy to play and can be played for either fun or for competition.

“Pickleball isn’t that hard to play,” he said. “That’s why it’s popular with everyone, of all ages.”

Indeed, pickleball is popular. And it will only grow in popularity in Cebu and across the world.

Best believe Rnelll Arsenal will be doing his best to make sure that happens.