Top ‘pickle’ star bets on sport’s PH rise

As pickleball continues its rapid rise across Asia, major Philippine companies are making increasingly ambitious investments in the sport, wagering that its explosive growth will fuel demand for world-class venues, coaching and tournaments.

Collin Johns, who recently visited the project while conducting coaching clinics in Manila, Cebu and Davao, said the Philippines is well positioned to become one of the sport’s fastest-growing markets in the region.

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“When even a small percentage of the country begins to play and they start to love pickleball, that makes the sport grow exponentially fast,” Johns, the sport’s most popular player and a former world No. 1, said, adding that the Philippines is quickly narrowing the gap with earlier adopters such as Vietnam and Malaysia.

Johns attributed the sport’s potential to the region’s strong traditions in badminton, tennis and table tennis, sports whose players often transition easily to pickleball.

The latest sign of that confidence is Helios, an eight-story pickleball complex under development in Bridgetowne that aims to become one of Asia’s premier tournament venues. The project brings together Robinsons Land Corp.’s Robinsons Sports & Leisure and Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp., with design consultation from Johns Design & Consulting, the firm founded by professional pickleball stars Collin and Ben Johns.

Kim Lapus, president of Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp., said the project was designed as a climate-controlled indoor facility capable of staging international competitions while benefiting from Bridgetowne’s surrounding commercial district.

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“For the players and for the spectators, everything is walking distance in Bridgetowne,” Lapus said, citing nearby Opus mall, restaurants and the soon-to-open Fili Hotel. “You just can’t build a facility in the middle of nowhere and expect people to go there. This is a lot better because the whole ecosystem is here.”

Ramon Rivero, Robinsons Land’s chief strategy officer and general manager of Robinsons Sports & Leisure, said the company’s newest business unit seeks to complement its malls, offices, residential developments and hotels by creating destinations centered on recreation.

Players will get an early preview of the concept through Helios Beta, a temporary outdoor venue scheduled to open in Bridgetowne in October 2026. Select participants from Johns’ coaching clinics will have opportunities to coach there before eventually moving into the permanent facility.