Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. Over the past five years, it has exploded in popularity — from parks in L.A. to pro tournaments in Naples, Florida — with millions picking up a paddle for the first time. Soon, the Philippines will join the craze. And Cebu will be at the center of it.
Why? Because Pickleball is “Easy to Learn but Hard to Stop.”
I’ve been playing sports for four decades — basketball, tennis, running, cycling — but I’ve never seen a game so inclusive. Seventy-year-olds can play alongside seven-year-olds. Dads, moms, lolos and apos can rally together. After just a few minutes of trying, you can start playing real games. It’s even simpler to pick up than badminton — and the wind doesn’t stop play.
Last Aug. 2 was an intense day for Cebu pickleball. From 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. — exactly 10 hours — the first-ever in10s Games turned the four courts of Bright Academy in Banilad into a blur of paddles and points.
It was a day built on TENS. Ten seconds to serve. Ten minutes for every match. Ten hours for the entire event.
Sixty-four players in 16 teams came not just from Cebu City but from all over — Liloan, Lapu-Lapu, Naga, and Toledo — to serve, dink and smash. Each encounter featured four matches: Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles, and two Mixed Doubles. But here’s the twist: every match lasted just 10 minutes. The scoring wasn’t the usual “first to 11,” but time-based. Everyone started and finished together. And waiting time? Minimal.
In the morning, the 35+ (years old) division took the stage. Experience met precision. Strategy trumped speed. By afternoon, the 18–34 (years old) bracket took over, bringing bursts of speed and rapid-fire exchanges.
The finals came down to the best of the best. In the 18–34s, the KitchenLine Ballers of Sheina Martinez, Selena Monique Olo, Dwayne Balibalos, and Christian Lagura faced Team Toledo, composed of Blessie Celis, Viviene Bigtasin, Dale Abellanosa, and Christian Celis. The championship was tight, but the Ballers held on for gold. Toledo took silver with pride.
In the 35-and-above group, The Paddle Pickers — Catharine Chiong Cantilang, Daisy Abangan, Jet Stellar, and Nick Villanueva — proved that experience wins as many points as youth. They overcame the KitchenLine Ballers of Jai Hong, Michelle Ramirez, Eliezer Yac, and Philip Pañaranda, who finished as runners-up.
Here’s the beauty of Pickleball: it doesn’t ask your age or your address. It just says, “Come play.” And once the ball is served, it has a way of breaking down walls, turning strangers into teammates, and opponents into friends.
Wave 1 was just the start. If Aug. 2 was any indication, In10s Games Wave 2 — set for Oct. 10 or 10/10 — will be faster, louder and even more intense.
And the best part for me? With the help of many friends — and with Rnell and Arjean Arsenal and the PQ Lab team — the organizer of this event was my daughter, Jana. So proud of you, Doo!