Manny Pacquiao Launches MPPT, Professional Pickleball League With Prize Pool of at Least ₱5M
Manny Pacquiao, long celebrated for his exploits in boxing and basketball, is now championing pickleball. The Filipino icon is spearheading the Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour (MPPT), a professional team-based league aiming to launch eight pioneering franchises later this year. Sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board, the competition will represent Metro Manila, Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, with a prize pool of at least ₱5 million.
Three teams have already confirmed their participation, and MPPT Chief Executive Officer Joe Ramos expects the full roster of eight franchises to be finalised this month.
MPPT Format
The MPPT will begin with a five-leg invitational. Each team will field three men and three women, competing in men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Matches will follow a round-robin format on Saturdays, with quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals staged on Sundays. Commissioner Mark K. Espinosa explained: “This format highlights the depth of talent in Philippine pickleball while creating a competitive and exciting team environment.”
The weekend-only schedule is intentional—designed to provide consistency without the strain of mid-week travel across the archipelago.
Pacquiao’s Vision for the Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour
The Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tourmirrors Pacquiao’s earlier success with the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), which gave hundreds of players opportunities beyond the PBA.
“It’s always been my mission to promote sports and give our athletes a platform to showcase their talents and bring pride and honour to their cities and provinces,” Pacquiao said. “I know it’s a relatively new sport in the Philippines, but it’s exciting and easy to learn.”
Pacquiao himself has taken up pickleball, playing recreationally with his wife Jinkee in General Santos City. His involvement lends visibility to the sport in ways no marketing campaign could match.
The Bigger Picture: Growing Pickleball in the PH
Pickleball is already regarded as the fastest-growing sport in the country. The MPPT provides a professional destination for grassroots energy, offering players aspirations beyond recreational play. Whether it becomes the premier pickleball platform will depend on execution, competition quality, and audience support.
Still, with Pacquiao’s name attached, attention is guaranteed. As Philippine sports history shows, when he leads, people follow.
