PYCL Partners With GMA International to Bring Philippine Pro Pickleball to Global Audience
Philippine professional pickleball is going global—and it is doing so through one of the country’s most powerful broadcast networks.
The Pickle Yard Conference League (PYCL) officially sealed a partnership with GMA International during a ceremonial contract signing at The Pickle Yard SOMO, bringing the country’s first professional pickleball league to Filipino communities worldwide. PYCL Season 1 premieres on 22 June 2026 on GMA News TV and GMA Pinoy TV’s digital platforms, with international coverage on GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA On Demand.
The signing brought together leadership from both organisations. GMA International was represented by First Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia, Senior Programming Manager Mary Anne M. Toribio, and Activations Manager Mae Trono. PYCL’s contingent was led by chief executive officer John Regison Talusan alongside chief operating officer Philip Pagon, chief financial officer Sheila Talusan, chief marketing officer Jorge Tenorio, and chief franchise officer Mai Sun Dimatulac. GMA International and GMA Pinoy TV podcast host Tonie Pua and PYCL’s Moxx De Vera hosted the ceremony, which closed with a pickleball game demonstration featuring players from both organisations.
PYCL launched in 2026 as the country’s first professional pickleball league, built around corporate-backed teams and the Philippines’ top competitive talent. The GMA International partnership takes that platform beyond Philippine shores—putting the league in front of the millions of Filipinos living and working abroad who follow local sports through GMA’s global channels.
The player roster is one of the league’s strongest selling points. Sisters Bambi and Bien Zoleta headline the lineup, bringing elite racket-sport pedigree from their decorated soft tennis careers—Bien is a multi-time SEA Games gold medalist, while Bambi has established herself as a rising international champion. Both have claimed gold at the World Pickleball Championships. Team captains Medelene “Meds” Saraza and Anna Clarice Patrimonio add leadership and competitive depth, while veterans like Johnny “The Legend” Arcilla and Tim “The Enforcer” Polero bring experience that the younger players can learn from.
The rising talent pool is equally compelling. Macy “Lady Tower” Ybanez, Ken Unique “Chinito Smasher” Dela Cruz, Chloe Mae “Baby Bear” Saraza, and Patricia “AT Princess” Raymundo represent a generation of players hungry to make their mark on a league that is still writing its history. Bacolod-based players Glen Ong and Pretzel Ong, along with Christy Joy Sañosa, add regional flavour to a roster that stretches well beyond Metro Manila.
For GMA International, the partnership aligns with GMA Pinoy TV’s stated mission as the Heart of Global Pinoys—bringing Filipino sports, culture, and community to audiences spread across the world. For PYCL, it is the kind of broadcast platform that turns a local professional league into something with genuine international reach.
Philippine pro pickleball now has a global stage. Tune in June 22.
