Photo Credits to: SM City Sta. Mesa (https://www.facebook.com/SMCityStaMesa/posts/pfbid0yCXdiib1946ewYWcBrBBosWdumVvmifdx9iyu5mX4TovmjQNSYTTkyxsS9jc6FhZl)
MANILA, Philippines — Pickleball is rapidly becoming a mainstream sport in the Philippines, and SM Supermalls is at the forefront of expanding access to courts and community play nationwide.
By the end of 2025, SM Supermalls operated 61 pickleball court locations across 25 of its mall properties, making it the largest pickleball court network among mall operators in the country. These courts include 37 permanent court installations, with recent additions at SM Center Shaw and SM Center Muntinlupa in Metro Manila.
Expanding Permanent Facilities and Community Access
The latest expansion under SM’s sports initiative comes through the SM Sports and Lifestyle Center (SLC), which oversees the development of pickleball venues and related programming. The new facilities at SM Center Shaw and SM Center Muntinlupa, developed in partnership with sports provider Paloo, feature three outdoor courts at Shaw and four indoor courts at Muntinlupa, designed to accommodate players of varying skill levels with accessible pricing.
Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls executive vice president for marketing, emphasized the strategic intent behind the expansion:
These developments build on SM’s broader SM Active Hub initiative - a platform designed to deliver high‑quality, inclusive sports experiences that blend recreation, competition, and community engagement.
Photo Credits to: SM City Sta. Mesa (https://www.facebook.com/SMCityStaMesa/posts/pfbid0yCXdiib1946ewYWcBrBBosWdumVvmifdx9iyu5mX4TovmjQNSYTTkyxsS9jc6FhZl)
More Than Just Courts - A Hub for Events and Active Lifestyles
SM Active Hub’s approach to pickleball goes beyond infrastructure. The network also includes semi‑permanent courts deployed across other locations to meet growing demand, helping support a mix of casual play and organized activities. SM has reported strong bookings across its courts, prompting plans to expand to close to 80 courts by 2026 as interest grows.
The program also brings creative and community‑oriented events to the sport, such as Glow Ball pickleball evenings - where games are played under lighting effects - and free coached clinics that introduce newcomers to the sport’s basics. Competitive formats like the SM Pickleball Super Series, organized with partners such as Toby’s Sports, offer more structured competitive opportunities.
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