Two New Names, One Inaugural Season: Meet THE DOTS TOKYO and the Viet Panthers
MLP Asia is almost here, and the teams are starting to take shape. Two of the latest to unveil themselves, THE DOTS TOKYO and the Viet Panthers, come from very different places but share a common goal: building a pro pickleball culture at home.
The inaugural MLP Asia season begins on Friday, 13 November, with six teams in the field. Four will advance to the finals, with the semifinals on 11 December and the first champion crowned on Super Saturday, 12 December. Here’s a look at two of the contenders.
THE DOTS TOKYO: Connecting the Dots
The name comes from the idea of “connecting the dots.” Every dot is a person, whether a player, a staff member, or a fan in the stands, each with a different background and story. Pickleball is what joins them up. Connect enough dots, the team says, and you get something bigger than any one of them: a team, a home crowd, and a new sporting culture in Japan.
There’s serious muscle behind the concept. THE DOTS TOKYO was established jointly by TBS Holdings and dentsu Sports & Entertainment, with TBS being one of Japan’s major broadcasters and dentsu the country’s largest advertising group. They’ll run the team together, build the brand, and bring in partners, with a wider aim of growing the game in Japan from player development to fan communities.
The timing makes sense. The number of pickleball players in Japan is estimated at around 330,000 in 2026, roughly seven times the figure a year earlier. Until now, those players have had no pro team at home to follow.
Yuta Funemizu captains the six-player roster, which also includes Daniel Moore, Nasa Hatakeyama, Rika Fujiwara, Aiko Yoshitomi, and Mihae Kwon.
And the opening is a statement. The very first match in MLP Asia history will be played in Japan, with TBS and dentsu hosting the opening match day. The Dots face Manila Helios and then the Malayan Stripes, with a win in both putting them on top of the standings on night one.
Viet Panthers: A Vietnamese Identity on the Regional Stage
The Viet Panthers officially launched at GEM Center in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the arrival of MLP Asia’s team format in Vietnam. They’re backed by Ascend Sports Partners (ASP), an organisation that invests in and operates sport with a long-term view. ASP’s CEO and founder, Adam (Thach) Tran, laid out the ambition: “We want Vietnam to be more than a destination for international events.”
The six-player roster blends local and international talent led by Vietnamese captain Quan Do, who partnered with Hien Truong to capture men’s doubles gold at both the Capital Securities Beijing Open and the MB Ho Chi Minh City Open on the PPA Tour Asia this year. Truong, his trusted doubles partner, adds stability to the lineup. In addition, Sophia Nhi Huynh and Ho Tam bring momentum after winning gold at the Skechers Shenzhen Open, while Tama Shimabukuro, a 10-time PPA Tour Asia medallist, contributes a blend of youth and experience across multiple disciplines. Finally, Kaitlyn Christian, a seven-time Asia medallist, enters fresh from her women’s singles triumph at the Leapmotor Kuala Lumpur Cup, adding further depth and championship pedigree to the team.
The team has also named AP Sports Club as its home venue. Plans call for AP Sports Club 2 to have a dedicated competition court with seating for roughly 1,000 spectators. The Panthers have also unveiled a 2026 jersey and a first merchandise collection, “The First Pack.”
Where Their Paths Cross
The two teams will meet soon. After opening night, THE DOTS TOKYO go on the road to face the Viet Panthers in Vietnam on 21 November, which is also the Panthers’ home competition day. The Dots then travel to China PR to face the Dragon Warriors on 27 November.
Indeed, with a media and advertising powerhouse behind one team and a Vietnamese sports investment group behind the other, MLP Asia’s opening weeks look set to be as much about building scenes as winning matches. By December, we’ll know which dots connected best.
