MANILA,
Philippines, May 2026 —
The country’s fastest-growing sport has found its biggest stage at your
most-loved SM Supermalls. Through SM Active Hub, SM continues to redefine
malling by turning its spaces into a leading destination for sports, wellness,
and community experiences.
Long before it became a retail trend, SM
was already building sports and recreational spaces, evolving its malls into
vibrant hubs where communities can move, connect, compete, and unwind.
In 2026
alone, SM Active Hub accelerated its massive nationwide expansion with the
opening of new pickleball courts across key SM malls, bringing its total
footprint to a staggering 86 pickleball courts in 29 malls nationwide — the
largest mall-based pickleball network in the country today. From Luzon to
Mindanao, SM continues to make the sport more accessible to Filipinos while
cementing its position as the dominant and most expansive pickleball
destination in the Philippines.
Beyond infrastructure, SM Active Hub has staged over 100 tournaments, open-plays, and clinics nationwide, cementing its role as one of the country’s most active tournament organizers. Headlining 2026 is the SM Pickleball Super Series Year 2 with Toby’s Sports, following successful legs at SM North EDSA and SM Mall of Asia, alongside the ongoing SM Active Hub Pickleball Trio Challenge across SM malls.
The season features qualifying legs in
SM City Bicutan, SM City Sta. Mesa, SM City Santa Rosa, SM City Marikina, and
SM Center Muntinlupa, culminating at Four E-Com Center, SM Active Hub’s newest
six-court venue.
Further solidifying its position as the
country’s premier pickleball hub, SM Active Hub has now welcomed nine
international professional pickleball players to its courts, bringing
world-class talent closer to Filipino communities.
Leading the 2026 roster is 16-year-old
Filipino-Canadian phenom McKonner Dy, a Canadian national champion and league
draftee. As part of SM Active Hub’s “Here to Move” campaign, he toured multiple
SM malls from April 9 to 12, joining exhibition games, meet-and-greets, and
activations including Night Glow at SM City Cabanatuan, SM Center Muntinlupa,
and Neon Paddle at SM Center Antipolo Downtown.
SM courts also welcomed globally
recognized pickleball star James Ignatowich, a PPA Champion, former World No. 3
in Mixed Doubles, and Co-Founder and CEO of RPM Pickleball, who headlined the
Toby’s Pickleball Super Series event at SM North EDSA and delivered thrilling
high-level matches for local fans.
In 2025, SM Active Hub hosted
Filipino-American pro player Lauren Mercado, based in the U.S. and ranked #1
U18 in Nevada and #10 U18 in the U.S., who toured multiple SM malls and shared
her expertise with local players, strengthening SM’s sports ecosystem.
Beyond competition, SM Active Hub is
transforming pickleball into a vibrant social and lifestyle movement through
immersive, Instagrammable experiences for today’s active communities.
Adding to the growing ecosystem are
unique community-driven concepts such as the launch of the Pink Paddle Club at
SM City East Ortigas, the vibrant Pickleball Night Glow at SM City Cabanatuan,
the opening of the pickleball courts at SM Center Muntinlupa, and the energetic
Neon Paddle activation at SM Center Antipolo Downtown. These colorful,
high-energy experiences have redefined how Filipinos enjoy sports by blending
fitness, entertainment, music, nightlife, and community into one maxed-out
experience.
At SM Mall of Asia, professional
pickleball player and APP Malaysia Gold Medalist Ryan Fu headlined the SM
Active Hub anniversary celebration last April 11 and joined mini exhibition
matches during the Women’s Month activation, helping introduce the sport to
beginner and lifestyle audiences.
Meanwhile, six foreign pickleball
players and content creators from lifestyle collective The Friday Crew turned
Four E-Com Center into a vibrant social sports hub last May 17 through games,
meetups, and giveaways — showing how pickleball has evolved into a full-scale
social movement.
“Through SM Active Hub, we continue to
lead pickleball’s growth in the Philippines by making the sport more
accessible, inclusive, and community-driven. With the country’s largest network
of courts, tournaments, and activations, SM Supermalls has become the biggest
and most dominant advocate of pickleball and active lifestyles, reflecting how
Filipinos are embracing more social and experiential ways to stay active,” said
Joseph Francis V. Silva, Senior Assistant Vice President for Operations of SM
Sports & Leisure Centers.
Through the SM Malls Online App,
mallgoers can discover pickleball events, book courts, and join clinics
nationwide. The SM Active Hub community now has over 130,000 members, with
access to sports updates and exclusive perks across SM malls.
As pickleball surges nationwide, SM
Supermalls is no longer just participating—it is leading the movement. Through
accessible sports spaces and innovation, SM Active Hub shapes how Filipinos
gala to the max—live, play, compete, and connect.
Ready to pick up a paddle? Join the SM
Active Hub community and experience pickleball at its best. Download the SM
Malls Online App to book courts, join clinics, and stay updated on events
across 29 malls nationwide.
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