MANILA, Philippines — Pickleball is no longer just the game you casually pick up with friends—it’s getting faster, more competitive, and increasingly serious. And as the sport continues to gain momentum, Skechers is joining forces with the Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour (MPPT) as its Official Footwear Partner for the tour’s inaugural season.
The partnership announcement last September 28 at the Velaris Residences Show Gallery brought together Skechers and MPPT as the latter gears up for its debut season, which will see 12 teams compete across 5 legs in different cities and provinces.
Notably, the collaboration underscores the sport’s growing competitive landscape in the country, where pickleball is creating more opportunities for athletes to develop their skills, compete at a higher level, and represent their communities.
For Skechers Country Manager Sue Pasustento, the partnership represents more than a brand presence on the court, “Today is more than an announcement. It is a commitment to a sport that is moving faster, reaching more people, and creating new possibilities for Filipino athletes and communities,” she stated.
That commitment is rooted in what Skechers sees as three key pillars: authenticity, empowerment, and performance.
Skechers has been involved in pickleball well before its recent surge in popularity, becoming one of the first major global footwear brands to develop a dedicated pickleball shoe line. Currently, the brand works with top-ranked professional pickleball players and continues to bring that expertise to the Philippine market.
“Authenticity—we are here because we believe in pickleball. Not because it is popular today, but because we believe in where it can go tomorrow,” Pasustento added.
Through its partnership with MPPT, Skechers will provide financial support, contributing to the tour’s cash prizes, along with footwear for the MPPT team and raffle activities. Players can also expect to see Skechers products on and around the court, including its Viper Court pickleball footwear line, designed to support comfort, stability, and movement during play.
But the partnership is not about backing just one team. Skechers will support the tour as a whole, with 2 to 3 Skechers-sponsored teams expected to participate, including the General Santos team of Jinky Pacquiao.
The partnership will run throughout all 5 legs of MPPT’s first season, bringing competitive pickleball to different communities across the country. The season opens on October 3 and 4 at Pickleball Central (PCPH) in Angeles, Pampanga, followed by stops at Tagaytay City Velodrome on October 17 and 18, Abra Riverbanks Pickleball Hub in La Paz, Abra on November 7 and 8, and Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor City, Cavite on November 14 and 15. The fifth and final leg is scheduled for November 28 and 29, with the venue to be announced.
Across the season, MPPT will feature 12 teams, with approximately 6 to 10 players per team—potentially bringing together as many as 72 to 120 athletes.
For MPPT, having Skechers on board from the beginning also reflects the sport’s growing competitive landscape. The tour aims to give athletes more opportunities to compete, develop their skills, and represent their respective cities while introducing competitive pickleball to more communities nationwide.
And for Skechers, the goal goes beyond the next tournament.
“We want more Filipinos to discover the sport. More players to find their passion. More athletes to find their potential. And more communities to come together,” Pasustento said.
With its long-term partnership with the Philippine Pickleball Federation (PPF) and now its collaboration with MPPT, Skechers is looking to support the sport at different levels—from tournaments and athlete development to community activations and clinics.
Because whether it’s the first match, the tough loss, the breakthrough, or the big victory, every game is another step forward.
And with Skechers and MPPT joining forces, Philippine pickleball is ready to make its next move.