Pickleball continues to experience rapid growth in the Philippines, with the sport gaining popularity among recreational players, young athletes, and sports communities across the country. As more courts open in urban areas and provinces, the Philippines is now taking a significant step toward establishing itself as one of Southeast Asia’s leading destinations for pickleball.
The country recently moved closer to that goal following the announcement of a major partnership involving international pickleball stars Ben and Collin Johns, who will help design and technically plan the upcoming Helios Pickleball Center—a state-of-the-art facility expected to open in 2028.
The ambitious project aims to become one of the premier pickleball destinations in the region, featuring 25 tournament-grade courts and a championship venue capable of accommodating 2,000 spectators. Organizers envision the facility as a venue capable of hosting major international competitions, including events sanctioned by the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP).
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Beyond providing a world-class playing environment for Filipino athletes, the Helios Pickleball Center is expected to strengthen the country’s position as a potential host for global pickleball events while creating more opportunities for local players to compete and develop.
Former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann, who is involved in the project as head of operations of Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corporation (KAVC), believes the facility can play a major role in sustaining the sport’s rapid expansion in the country.
“We have seen the sudden rise of the sport in the country and we are aware of new courts appearing everywhere. If we can sustain this popularity, maybe we can also give the Philippines an instant foothold in the sport worldwide,” Bachmann said during a media interaction.
Pickleball has grown significantly in recent years, attracting players from different age groups due to its accessibility, fast-paced action, and relatively low barrier to entry. In the Philippines, the sport has quickly gained a following, with communities forming in various cities and more facilities being developed to accommodate growing demand.
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The involvement of Ben and Collin Johns adds further credibility to the project. Widely recognized as two of the most successful names in international pickleball, the brothers have played a major role in elevating the sport’s global profile.
Through Johns Design and Consulting (JDC), a firm co-founded by the Johns brothers, they will provide architectural design, facility planning, and technical consulting services to ensure that the Helios Pickleball Center meets international standards.
Their expertise will be used to create a venue designed not only for everyday play but also for high-level competitions, ensuring that the facility can meet the requirements of professional tournaments.
“Pickleball is experiencing explosive growth globally, and the Philippines is poised to become a major hub for the sport in Asia,” Collin Johns said.
For Philippine pickleball advocates, the development represents more than just the construction of a new sports facility. It signals a commitment to building the necessary infrastructure needed to nurture local talent, attract international events, and introduce more Filipinos to the sport.
Bachmann emphasized that the Helios Pickleball Center is only the beginning of a broader vision to expand pickleball facilities throughout the country.
“This is just the start,” he said, as organizers expressed their intention to develop similar venues in different regions to make the sport more accessible nationwide.
With the combination of growing local interest, increasing international recognition, and investments in world-class infrastructure, the Philippines hopes to position itself as a key player in the global pickleball landscape.
As the sport continues its upward trajectory, projects like the Helios Pickleball Center could serve as a foundation for the next generation of Filipino pickleball athletes while helping establish the country as a premier destination for international competitions in Asia.
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