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| Anna Leigh Waters (ALW), Franklin’s star athlete, the undisputed World No. 1 player, and the most dominant athlete in professional pickleball today, headlined the Manila leg of the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase and is set to make her return to the Philippines on December 9, 2026. (Image Source: Wazzup.PH/Franklin Sports/IAM Worldwide) |
Global pickleball giant Franklin Sports, in partnership with Toby’s Sports, officially kicked off its highly anticipated Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase in the Philippines last October 13-15, 2026. The landmark multi-nation showcase made its first stop in Manila before continuing in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Vietnam.
The Manila leg centered on an exclusive appearance by Anna Leigh Waters (ALW), Franklin’s star athlete, the undisputed World No. 1 player, and the most dominant athlete in professional pickleball today. Local fans and the fast-growing Filipino pickleball community were given a rare opportunity to see ALW showcase her high-octane skills that have dominated the global tour. Held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase brought together Filipino athletes, content creators, celebrities, and pickleball enthusiasts for a full day of exciting matches, on-court demonstrations, and memorable interactions with the world’s top-ranked player. The festivities opened in the morning with an exclusive session for content creators who had the opportunity to experience the excitement of pickleball and take part in on-court activities as part of the showcase. The morning program set the tone for a day dedicated to bringing the sport closer to the Filipino community. In the afternoon, the excitement reached new heights as Anna Leigh Waters was welcomed in true Filipino Santacruzan fashion. Making a grand entrance in a Filipiniana-inspired butterfly-sleeved bolero, accompanied by traditional Santacruzan arc bearers, ALW received a distinctly Filipino welcome befitting the Queen of Pickleball. The special welcome also celebrated ALW’s latest career milestone, having surpassed 200 career gold medals and secured her 45th career Triple Crown following her historic performance at the Chicago Cup. Following her grand entrance, ALW took to the court alongside her mother and coach, Leigh Waters, for a special fundamentals and skills demonstration, giving Filipino fans an up-close look at the techniques, precision, and strategies behind her world-class game.
As part of Franklin’s global marketing of its new paddle launch due later this year, the audience got the first look of Franklin’s new teaser “?” paddle as Anna Leigh and Leigh Waters both use this mysterious new paddle. The afternoon continued with a series of exciting matches featuring some of the Philippines’ talented pickleball athletes and Franklin brand ambassadors including Davis Alano, Zeth Alferez, Coco Barquin, Paulo Fermin, Anna Clarice Patrimonio, and Eren Penados. Adding even more excitement to the showcase were celebrity players Ariella Arida, Rodjun Cruz, Andy Smith, and Diana Zubiri-Smith who joined the on-court action for a special celebrity match alongside ALW. The selection of the Philippines as a primary destination reflects the country’s emergence as a global phenomenon in racket sports. With a staggering 1,213% year-over-year growth rate, the Philippines currently stands as the fastest-growing pickleball market in the world, topping Franklin Sports’ global expansion priorities. “We are honored and excited to bring our Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase to the Philippines. The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing pickleball markets in the world, and we couldn’t be prouder to bring the no. 1 player in the world, Anna Leigh Waters, to Manila. As a world leader in pickleball, Franklin is committed to developing the sport and bringing players the very best products and innovation. It’s even more special to have Anna Leigh, the game’s greatest player, competing with and showcasing Franklin products that she trusts at the highest level. This visit reflects Franklin’s commitment to supporting the growth of pickleball on a global scale. We’re thrilled to connect with the incredible pickleball community in the Philippines and to play a part in the continued growth of this amazing sport,” said Franklin Sports' Jared Franklin.
As an industry pioneer, Franklin Sports delivers premium equipment trusted by elite global professionals that have won 110 medals year to date on the PPA and APP Pro Tours including Hayden Patriquin, Paris Todd, Will Howells, Jimmy Liong, Sofia Sewing, Casey Diamond, Megan Fudge, and Ryler DeHeart among many others. Attendees also saw in action the legendary Franklin X-40 ball, universally regarded as the global gold standard for the sport. Holding over 75% market share in North America, the X-40 served as the Official Ball of Manny Pacquiao’s Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour (MPPT), Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships, the APP Tour, the Pickleball Slam, USA Pickleball, and over 1,000 additional tournaments worldwide. Franklin also revealed plans to introduce an all-new, faster-playing ball endorsed by ALW near the turn of the year called the X-44. Filipino players can access Franklin’s full range of paddles, balls, bags, footwear, and accessories nationwide through leading local retail partners including Decathlon, Toby’s Sports, Chris Sports, Juego PH and PSI Sports among several others.
