PYCL Season 2 Set to Serve Up Bigger, Tougher Competition Starting 24 October 2026
The Philippines’ pickleball scene is about to get another proper league season, and this one is raising the stakes.
The Pickle Yard Conference League (PYCL) opens Season 2 on Saturday, 24 October 2026, at The Pickle Yard SOMO in Bacoor City, Cavite. Eight teams will take part, each fielding a mix of Filipino and international players, with the aim of giving local talents regular competition and consistent exposure to different playing styles.
PYCL Commissioner John Regison Talusan says the theme is simple. “Season 2 is about raising the level of competition,” he said. “We want our Filipino players to be tested by international athletes, different playing styles and different competitive backgrounds, while giving overseas players a chance to experience the energy and talent of Philippine pickleball.”
The league also hopes to deepen the exchange between local and foreign players, giving both sides experience in a competitive environment. Talusan is confident the season will draw more interest from young and old fans alike, and expects it to surpass the success of the inaugural staging, given how well the teams have prepared.
Players and Teams to Watch in PYCL Season 2
Several names stand out. Filipino-British Mikar Fisher and Filipina-Australian Crystal Mildwaters headline the Filipino contingent with an international flavour, joining overseas players Amore Cook, Cody Temple, and Nico Almeida.
Local ace Bien Zoleta-Manalac is also worth watching. Just a month ago, she helped power Philippine soft tennis to a historic bronze medal in the women’s event at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
The franchises battling for the Season 2 crown are:
- Thrifty Drivers
- Dentacare Pearly Whites
- Cartivo Movers
- Konjac Zero Phoenix Force
- GFOXX Paragon
- Black Mamba Aces
- Cebuana Lhuillier Gems
- DreamSkin Radiants
The season runs until 27 November, with matches on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Backers, Broadcasters and Why It Matters
A long list of sponsors is behind the event, including NEXXGEN, BT Sports Apparel, UET International Corp., Healthy & Pure Brand, Million Glow by Kimsdiary, Immuni, Salonpas, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Magnolia, and Red Planet Hotels, among others.
On the media side, partners include GMA News TV, SPOTV, Prime TV, Nudge Sports, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, Favorite Music Radio, and TrillerTV. They support the league’s television, digital, streaming, and radio reach, with GMA and SPOTV helping to extend it to audiences beyond the Philippines.
Indeed, pickleball in the Philippines has grown quickly, but the gap between a packed court on a weekend and a structured, regular competition is wide. Leagues like PYCL bridge it by giving players a calendar to build on, and the mix of Filipino and international talent means local players will see styles they may not get in everyday play.
Indeed, with eight teams, four match days a week, and a broadcast footprint that stretches beyond the country, Season 2 looks set to be a big step up. Come Saturday, we’ll see how the new-look PYCL measures up.
