The Philippine Pickleball Federation (PPF) highlighted its partnership with a sitting senator as Team Philippines competes at the 2026 Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam.
In a statement posted on social media, the PPF recognized Senator Bong Go as a supporting partner of the Philippine contingent currently competing against some of the world’s top pickleball players.
“Maraming salamat for supporting Team Philippines, Senator Bong Go,” the PPF said in its social media post, rallying behind the national delegation under the message, “One Team, One Nation, One Goal.”
Thirty-eight Filipino athletes are carrying the Philippine flag in Da Nang across the Open, Seniors, Masters, Juniors, and Kids divisions of the weeklong World Cup, which ends today, September 6.
“Binabati at pinasasalamatan ko ang Philippine Pickleball Federation sa patuloy ninyong pagtataguyod sa ating mga atleta at sa pagpapalakas ng pickleball sa bansa,” Go said.
The partnership comes as pickleball continues to build a sizable following in the Philippines alongside the wider resurgence of racket sports, a trend Go has previously linked in part to the international success of Filipino tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala.
In his previous sponsorship speech honoring Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala’s latest achievement, Go said her success was helping create renewed enthusiasm for sports beyond tennis.
“Masasabi po natin na ang mga tagumpay niya ay naging susi sa muling pag-usbong ng racket sports sa bansa,” Go said.
Go also cited the growing popularity of pickleball, paddle, badminton, and other racket sports as among the activities that could benefit from the excitement generated by Eala’s achievements.
For Go, the crossover is important. High-profile Filipino athletes can attract new audiences to a sport, while growing communities around activities such as pickleball can create more opportunities for ordinary Filipinos to participate, stay active, and eventually develop competitive athletes.
Pickleball has emerged as a particularly visible part of that growth.
The sport has expanded through clubs, recreational groups, commercial courts, local tournaments, and competitive circuits, drawing players from different age groups and athletic backgrounds. Its relatively accessible format has also allowed former athletes from other racket sports to transition into competitive pickleball.
Several members of the Philippine World Cup contingent have backgrounds in tennis, including Leander Lazaro, Johnny Arcilla, and Ruben Gonzales, illustrating the increasingly close relationship between the country’s established racket-sports community and the rise of pickleball.
The PPF assembled a 38-athlete delegation after months of competitions, rankings, and tryouts as it prepared to test the country’s growing talent pool against international competition.
The World Pickleball Federation formally recognized and supported the 2026 Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang as an international competition, describing the tournament as an opportunity to bring together athletes, officials, and national associations while further expanding the sport across Asia and other emerging markets.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, said the growth of newer disciplines reinforces the need to support a Philippine sports system capable of responding to changing interests among athletes and communities.
“As I always say, ‘Get into sports, stay away from drugs, to keep us healthy and fit,’” Go has repeatedly emphasized, encouraging more Filipinos to participate in basketball, volleyball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, and other physical activities that can provide productive outlets while promoting discipline, teamwork, physical fitness, and healthier lifestyles.
Go has also backed pickleball activities at the grassroots level. During the opening of the 1st Annual Arena Athletics Pickleball Tournament in Davao City in June, he welcomed the increasing number of Filipinos taking up the sport and called for wider access to sports programs. His support for the expanding pickleball community forms part of a broader legislative agenda aimed at widening the country’s athlete-development pipeline.