‘She’s our idol’: Pinoy fans cheer on Anna Leigh Waters at Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase

MANILA — The Filipino fans of pickleball star Anna Leigh Waters were all smiles as they watched the World No. 1 play at the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

The pickleball supporters saw Waters shared the court with celebrities and players across six exciting matches.

“She’s so good at playing pickleball and she’s our idol from the very beginning!” one fan said.

Waters and her team gave away Franklin merchandise to fans throughout the program.

“She’s really performing really well. I think this is a great opportunity to inspire the Filipino people, especially the people of our community here in the Philippines,” said another fan.

“She’s really good. She has a lot of influence on us, beginners in pickleball. And considering she’s only 19 years old, she’s got a bright future ahead of her,” said a supporter.

Miss Universe Philippines 2013 Ariella Arida, who played with Waters, said she got hooked on the sport through her friends.

“It started because I have two friends who keep on inviting me to play. And then, yeah, when I started with them, wala na na-addict na ako,” Arida said.

Arida added she aims to play as often as possible in a week.

“I have to book at 6 a.m. because that’s the only time that I can reserve kasi that time, wala pang court. So, from 8 a.m. onwards, naka-book ‘yung courts. So, that’s the only time that we have available courts… I would wake up that early,” the former beauty queen added.

“Not even a photo. I just want to see how she really moves in person… We have the chance to play with her and play. And yeah, it’s super exciting.”

Actress Diana Zubiri said she’s also deeply into the sport, adding that she is also launching pickleball facilities.

“I have a club. Mayroon tayong 4,500 members. Masyado na akong invested sa larong ito,” said Zubiri.

For the country’s top professional women’s pickleball player Anna Clarice Patrimonio, sharing the court with Waters was a surreal experience.

“Grabe sobrang nakaka-starstruck. Every shot na hindi ko alam na pwede pala gawin, ginagawa niya,” she said. “Nakakasabay naman sa laro niya. ‘Dun ako na-inspire sa kaniya sa palo.”