SM Active Brings the World's Top Pickleball Players Closer to Filipinos

Anna Leigh Waters, Anna Bright, and Marcela Ampon recently visited Manila, giving fans and the growing local pickleball community a rare chance to meet their favorite athletes and witness their skills up close

From providing accessible pickleball facilities to bringing world class  pickleball experiences closer to Filipinos, SM Active strengthens its leadership in active living by creating more opportunities for Filipinos to experience and enjoy the sport.

With 108 courts across 33 malls nationwide, SM Active Pickleball makes the sport - which combines competition, fitness and social connection, more accessible to Filipino players and enthusiasts of different ages and skill levels. Beyond providing spaces to play, SM Active Pickleball reinforces this leadership by helping grow the sport through partnerships and events that connect local Filipino communities with prominent pickleball personalities. The recent Philippine visits of top international pickleball players, Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright, and Filipino-American pro  Marcela Ampon, demonstrate how these efforts create opportunities for Filipinos to engage with the sport, learn from its prominent figures, and become part of its growing community.

World No. 1 pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters (second from left) poses with SM Supermalls President Steven Tan and  Franklin Sports International Head, Jared Franklin   during the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase  (R) Anna Leigh Waters,  strikes a celebratory pose at the SM Mall of Asia Globe during her visit in the Philippines for the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase.

The visits of Waters, Bright, and Ampon gave Filipino players and enthusiasts a chance to see prominent pickleball personalities up close and gain a deeper appreciation of the skill and strategy behind the sport.  

Waters visited SM Mall of Asia during her Philippine appearance in October as part of the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase, with SM Active serving as the partner venue. Her appearance brought international pickleball into a familiar local setting, helping raise the sport’s visibility among Filipino players and enthusiasts. 

Anna Leigh Waters shares her excitement  as she competes in an exhibition match during the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase at  Four E-com pickleball court and at the SM Mall of Asia, giving Filipino pickleball players and enthusiasts an opportunity to witness elite-level pickleball skills and gameplay firsthand.

Ampon brought her “Marcela Comes Home: PH Tour 2026” to SM City East Ortigas and SM City Marikina on October 24, giving Filipino pickleball enthusiasts opportunities to meet and learn from her through interactive activities, a Q & A session, and other event experiences. Organized by Palakol in partnership with SM Active Pickleball, the tour also featured special guest appearances by Diana Zubiri, Andy Smith, and Chef MJ, with Moxx De Vera, the Pambansang Boses ng Pickleball, as host. 

Marcela Ampon demonstrates her pickleball skills during an on-court activity as part of her Marcela Comes Home: PH Tour 2026  (R) She shares a lighthearted moment with fellow pickleball players at the SM City East Ortigas pickleball courts.

On October 27, Bright met players and fans at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall through InLifePresents Anna Bright in Manila. Presented by InLife, powered by Helios Pickleball Manila with JOOLA, and held in partnership with SM Active, the event featured an interactive interview, skills demonstration, exhibition matches, audience challenges, and a fan meet-and-greet.

World no. 2 pickleball player Anna Bright (second from left) poses with  Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. (KAVC) Head of Operations  Richard E. Bachmann,  SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Mall-Based Business Units Katrina L. Abelarde,  and  SM Active Senior Assistant Vice President Joseph Francis V. Silva during the InLife Presents Anna Bright in Manila, bringing world-class pickleball experiences closer to Filipino players and enthusiasts (R) Anna Bright celebrates with fans for an exhibition game at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

For Filipino enthusiasts, meeting and playing alongside elite athletes offers more than an exciting sporting experience. It provides inspiration, encourages learning, and demonstrates how a shared passion for sports can bring people together. These events can also motivate newcomers to try the game and encourage existing players to continue developing their skills.

Beyond hosting pickleball events on and off the court, SM Active Pickleball supports the sport’s continued growth by providing accessible spaces where Filipinos can learn and enjoy the game. Its growing network of courts inside SM Malls across the country gives beginners a place to try the game, recreational players somewhere to meet for matches, and more experienced athletes to keep developing their skills. They also give families and friends another way to spend time together through sport.

Anna Bright (right) takes part in an exhibition match with pickleball communities  during the InLife Presents Anna Bright in Manila .

“Through SM Active and our partnerships with leading sports brands and the global pickleball community, we are bringing world-class pickleball talent to Manila and creating opportunities for Filipinos to learn from and be inspired by the best in the sport. This reflects our commitment to growing the local pickleball community, making sports more accessible, and encouraging more Filipinos to embrace active, healthy lifestyles. Ultimately, we want to make every game an opportunity to connect, grow, and move together,” said Joseph Francis Silva, Senior Assistant Vice President of SM Active.

By combining accessible sports facilities, community engagement, and opportunities to connect with prominent personalities, every visit to your most-loved SM malls becomes more than just a shopping experience. These destinations are transforming into accessible hubs for sports, fitness, recreation, entertainment, and meaningful social connections.

To know more about SM Active  follow @SMActive on Facebook, and @smactiveofficial on Instagram.

About SM Supermalls

SM Supermalls is one of Southeast Asia's largest mall developers and operators, with 90 malls in the Philippines and 9 in China. For generations, SM has grown alongside Filipino communities by creating destinations where people, businesses, and opportunities come together.

Through "My SM", SM continues to evolve with the changing lifestyles of Filipino communities—creating places where people can discover, connect, move, play, and recharge through thoughtfully designed experiences, better connectivity, and spaces that bring everyday life closer together.

Join SM Active

SM Active elevates sports and active lifestyle experiences to give everyone more ways to move, play, and belong at their most-loved SM Supermalls.

As SM transforms its spaces to evolve for Filipinos, its malls become hubs for the best local and global sports facilities, programs, and events that foster community activity. Everyone is welcome—from beginners taking their first steps to seasoned athletes and professionals pursuing excellence—and SM reinforces its long-standing commitment to accessible sports and community development.

SM Active, Move Together