Pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the country, just got a big boost with the grand opening of Angeles Pickleball Center on October 20, 2024. Located at the Best Western Plus Metro Clark compound in Balibago, Angeles City, it is perfectly situated in the heart of the city allowing easy access for tourists and local players alike.
A short mass, celebrated by Fr. Archie Tapang, started the event. Immediately after, Savers Group Holdings Inc. president and chief operating officer Jansen Ivan Uy and executive vice president Justin Shaun Uy cut the ribbon to officially open the facility to the public. As the ribbon fell to the side, Fr. Tapang made his way inside to bless the courts. Jansen Uy also had the honor of delivering the ceremonial first-serve to start the games.
“We have five dedicated pickleball courts, all with ProCourt™ surfaces to deliver that perfect bounce for this sport,” said majority shareholder Gilbert Medina. “Pickleball is really a sport for everyone. Anyone can play it, it is very easy to learn but very hard to master,” Medina added.
The grand opening of Angeles Pickleball Center is a whole day of games with three time slots for open play with raffle prizes in between. Open play is a game format in pickleball wherein you get to play with different players of different levels.
Three top women national players, Clarice Patrimonio together with siblings Bambi and Bien Zoleta, played exhibition games with Angeles Pickleball Club members to the delight of the crowd.
Amid all the hoopla, Medina manages a few parting words, “pickleball is not just a sport phenomenon, it is a community, fostering camaraderie never seen before in any other sport. Let’s play pickleball!” –Press release
