Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

MAKATI CITY — Energy and excitement filled the air at the newly opened Padel 300 Club in Makati as 150 local and international players competed in the first-ever Padel 300 Major tournament over the weekend. Men and women battled across six divisions—from beginners to intermediate and Open categories—in what organizers described as one of the country’s biggest and most competitive padel events to date. A total of 71 teams vied for cash prizes, including a top purse of ₱100,000 for the Open champions. For the first time, even the Novice division received cash rewards.Matches were intense and fiercely contested, yet always ended with smiles and sportsmanship. Off the court, players and spectators enjoyed the club’s amenities, including a buffet spread, pasta bar, coffee and drinks, as well as access to an indoor football pitch and lap pool—turning the tournament into a full weekend festival of sport and community.The event drew participants from across the Philippines, along with foreign players from Hong Kong, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and the United States—a sign of padel’s growing footprint in the region.“As a professional athlete, I was always looking for adrenaline,” said former Philippine Azkals player Misagh Bahadoran. “In football, I use my legs—here, my hands were the problem,” he joked. “A lot of football players like Messi and Cristiano play padel. You don’t get injured easily, you get good cardio, and you burn a lot of calories. I’m really enjoying this new chapter in my sports life.” Padel’s accessibility is part of its appeal.“You can play padel at any stage, any age,” said intermediate player Marge Camacho. “There’s huge participation from former tennis and badminton players. It’s very social. I met a lot of new people and reconnected with old friends.” While tennis in the Philippines continues to gain momentum thanks to the meteoric rise of Alex Eala and the success of the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open, padel is quickly carving out its own space as one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.“I love both sports,” said Singapore-based pro tennis and padel instructor Shane Marshall. “As you get older, in padel you can still cover the court and have fun. Tennis takes longer to master, but they complement each other well. You should definitely try both.” Brazilian player Guillerme Queen, who recently moved to Manila, joined his first local tournament this weekend.“It’s an amazing country. The people are super nice,” he said. “Padel is such a fun game—I enjoy both the social and competitive sides of it.”Among the standout partnerships in the intermediate division are Finina Lava and Victoria Lee, who have been playing together for over a year and have already captured five local titles.“I’m a dancer—this is my first racket sport,” said Lava. “I just wanted to try it, and I fell in love with the game.” “It’s a sport where I’m always challenging myself. There’s always a new game plan,” Lee added.In one tournament the duo won a most coveted prizes: a week-long training camp at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain—where Eala trains.“We’re excited to go there and hopefully see Alex,” Lee said. “It will be an intensive seven-day training in April.” Tournament Director Victor Gomez expressed pride in the event’s strong turnout and high level of competition.“The level of play is very high,” Gomez said. “We have pros, amateurs, and beginners all competing together in six categories. This is the first time even the Novice division is receiving cash prizes.”Events Head Stephanie De La Torre highlighted the international presence at the tournament, noting the growing foreign community in Philippine padel.The Padel 300 Major is just the beginning. Organizers say more tournaments and community-driven events are lined up throughout the year. “This is open to the public. There’s an app and no membership is required,” said managing partner Yael Ledesma. “Tournaments are a great way to bring people together. Aside from padel, participants can also play football, table tennis, foosball, join swimming challenges, and enjoy the food.”“Filipinos are falling in love with an active lifestyle,” he added. “Padel resonates with that energy. It’s a great sport to build community.”Finals across all categories and the awarding ceremonies will be held on Sunday, February 22.<div>  </div>

Energy and excitement filled the air at the newly opened Padel 300 Club in Makati as 150 local and international players competed in the first-ever Padel 300 Major tournament over the weekend.

Energy and excitement filled the air at the newly opened Padel 300 Club in Makati as 150 local and international players competed in the first-ever Padel 300 Major tournament over the weekend.

150 Padel pros, amateurs compete at First Padel 300 Major in Makati

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150 Padel pros, amateurs compete at First Padel 300 Major in Makati

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 21, 2026 11:43 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 22, 2026 02:47 PM PHT

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Padel 300

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