Nearly 300 participants, including former tennis stars, current coaches, recreational pickleballers, and rising talents, will battle for pride, glory, and big cash prizes when the 1st ArenaPlus-KaTribu Pickleball Tournament opens this Friday at the Dink Lab Elite inside All Home in Kawit, Cavite.
The event, dubbed “Dink-dependence Day Showdown,” coincides with the 128th anniversary of the Philippines’ independence from colonial rule and features blue-ribbon matches in multiple divisions. Nearly 300 players will compete, headlined by 57-year-old Leonard Regio (Cainta Greenland Pickleball Club) and 23-year-old Marvin Alfonso (Lakaw Pickleball Club).
Regio will compete with his 28-year-old son Migs in the men’s low-intermediate division. The former tennis player said he will use the tournament to bond with his son and prepare for victory: “I used to play three times a week before slowing down this summer due to extreme heat. I use pickleball to relieve stress while taking a break from my corporate duties… we decided to play more to further develop our chemistry on the court.”
The event will be opened by ArenaPlus chief Erick Su, Philippine Pickleball Federation president Shery Anne Cu, DAILY TRIBUNE Sports editor Julius Manicad, and Kawit Mayor Armie Aguinaldo. The awarding ceremony will be graced by Senator Mark Villar, former Senator Cynthia Villar, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio, and DAILY TRIBUNE president Willie Fernandez.
Prize money is massive: P15,000 for the champion, P10,000 for the first runner-up, and P5,000 for the second runner-up, plus trophies and medals. Raffles include round-trip tickets to Japan for two winners and accommodation at Hotel 101 and the Okura Hotel.
Also playing: high-intermediate standout Marvin Alfonso (coached by 23-year-old Alfonso, paired with student Renz Mar Ramos) and Dink Lab Elite stars Cindy Quijano, Karl Tan, Paul Rodriguez, Aaron Paul Briggs. Philippine Pickleball Federation president Shery Anne Cu will partner with Terry Lim Sarmiento for the ICAA Pickleball Club in the women’s high-intermediate division.
Supported by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, the Villar Foundation, Aeropostale, and a star-studded list of sponsors including Mama Lou’s, Pag-Ibig Funds, Cebu Pacific, Hotel 101, Okura Hotel, DITO, and many more.









