Pickleball’s rapid rise in the Philippines has reached another milestone. Manny Pacquiao’s Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour (MPPT) has secured a broadcast partnership with Solar Sports, giving the country’s fast-growing sport a national television platform.
Key Points:
- Manny Pacquiao’s MPPT has partnered with Solar Sports for weekend broadcasts starting in October.
- The inaugural Invitationals will feature 12 teams, with the league targeting 16–24 teams for its first full season in March 2027.
- Matches will include men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles, with the top eight teams reaching Sunday’s playoffs.
- Each leg offers a ₱1 million prize pool, while the national finals in Metro Manila are expected to feature an even bigger purse.
Pacquiao and Solar Sports Share Pickleball Vision
The MPPT will make its debut across five cities, with matches airing on weekends from October. The partnership also places pickleball alongside the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) in Solar Sports’ sporting portfolio, adding another chapter to Pacquiao’s growing involvement in Philippine sports beyond boxing.
Pacquiao stressed that expanding the platform for Filipino athletes has been central to the MPPT from the beginning. “From the beginning, our goal has been to give Filipino athletes a bigger platform and help bring pickleball to more people across the country,” Pacquiao said. “Having Solar Sports as our broadcast partner allows us to bring the MPPT and our athletes to an even bigger audience.”
MPPT Commissioner Mark Espinosa also highlighted the shared vision between the two organisations, while Solar Sports President Wilson Tieng, a longtime ally of Pacquiao, described the partnership as a natural extension of their work together through the MPBL.
12 Teams Set for MPPT Invitationals
The inaugural MPPT line-up features 12 teams, including the Rizal Illustrados, Bacoor Strikers, Muntinlupa Smashers, Pampanga Chiefs, Batangas Bangers, Alfonso Siklab, Bangued Miki, GenSan Punchers, Parañaque Titans, Camarines Norte Golden Hawks and Abra River Paddlers.
Each team will consist of eight to 10 players, with at least two homegrown talents required on every roster. The Invitationals will serve as the starting point before the league expands to between 16 and 24 teams for its first full season in March 2027.
MPPT Format Brings Weekend Pickleball Action
The competition will feature men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles, with teams facing each other in a single-round robin format on Saturdays. The top eight teams will then advance to Sunday's playoffs. If teams finish tied, singles matches between their respective best players will be used to determine the outcome.
Each leg will carry a ₱1 million prize pool, while an even larger purse is expected for the national finals in Metro Manila. Pacquiao and his wife, both avid pickleball players, are also expected at the opening ceremony, alongside celebrities and influencers who have helped fuel the sport’s growing popularity.
MPPT Opens Professional Pickleball to Filipinos
Licensed by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the MPPT is open to Filipinos aged 18 and above, while minors can participate with parental consent.
With its Solar Sports partnership, the MPPT will give Philippine pickleball a significantly wider broadcast platform when the Invitationals begin in October. The move also gives Filipino players a new stage to compete in front of a national audience as the league works toward its expanded 2027 season.
