SM Active Hub successfully concluded its first-ever Pickleball Trio Challenge with an adrenaline-fueled Grand Finals held on July 12, 2026, at SM Pickleball, Four E-Com Center MOA Complex in Pasay City. The championship event brought together the tournament’s top qualifying teams, marking a milestone for one of the country’s largest pickleball competitions and highlighting the continued growth of the sport in the Philippines.
Featuring a unique three-player team format, the competition encouraged strategic play while raising the level of competition. Teams competed in the DUPR 9 and DUPR 11 divisions, with categories determined by the combined Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) of the three players on each team. Throughout the tournament, participants demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship in every match, making each round highly competitive.
Top Teams Earn Championship Titles
The Grand Finals marked the culmination of five qualifying legs held across SM Bicutan, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Sta. Rosa, SM Marikina, and SM Center Muntinlupa. A total of 89 teams competed during the qualifying rounds, with the top 32 teams advancing to the championship event.
Team Boss K, composed of Keane, Sunshine, and Prince, claimed the championship title in the DUPR 9 category. Meanwhile, Team Zone, composed of Glorie, Zacky, and Renzo, emerged as the DUPR 11 champions. The winning teams advanced to the Grand Finals from the SM City Sta. Mesa and SM City Marikina qualifying events, respectively.
By securing their victories, Team Boss K and Team Zone earned the distinction of becoming the first champions of the SM Active Hub Pickleball Trio Challenge, adding a historic milestone to the tournament’s inaugural edition.
Grand Parade Highlights Growing Pickleball Community
The event also featured two Grand Parades of Finalists, one for each competition category. The parades symbolized the continued growth of the pickleball community in the country while showcasing SM Active Hub’s commitment to supporting the sport and bringing together players from different communities.
The inaugural tournament reinforced SM Supermalls’ commitment to promoting active lifestyles and fostering a thriving pickleball community. By organizing competitive events that emphasize teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy living, SM continues to provide opportunities for Filipinos to stay active while building meaningful connections through sports.
As the largest pickleball destination in the country, SM offers accessible venues where players of different skill levels can enjoy the sport, develop their abilities, and become part of the expanding pickleball community.
SM Expands Access to Pickleball Nationwide
As pickleball continues to gain popularity among Filipinos of all ages, SM Sports and Leisure Center is set to open more pickleball courts in the coming months. The expansion aims to make the sport more accessible to communities across the country, allowing more Filipinos to discover and enjoy pickleball closer to home.
The successful conclusion of the first-ever SM Active Hub Pickleball Trio Challenge reflects the growing enthusiasm for pickleball and underscores SM Supermalls’ continued commitment to health, wellness, and community engagement through sports. With additional pickleball courts planned in the coming months, SM continues to create more opportunities for Filipinos to embrace an active lifestyle while strengthening the country’s rapidly growing pickleball community.
