8 teams to compete for supremacy in PYCL Season 2
PYCL commissioner John Regison Talusan. Handout photoMANILA — Eight teams, featuring a mix of local and international players, will see action in the second season of the Pickle Yard Conference League (PYCL) when it kicks off on Saturday at The Pickle Yard SOMO in Bacoor City, Cavite.
The eight franchises that will be competing are: franchises that will be competing for the Season 2 title are the Thrifty Drivers, Dentacare Pearly Whites, Cartivo Movers, Konjac Zero Phoenix Force, GFOXX Paragon, Black Mamba Aces, Cebuana Lhuillier Gems and DreamSkin Radiants.
The league hopes to play a role in the continued growth of pickleball in the country, with PYCL commissioner John Regison Talusan noting an increased level of competition that also gives Filipino players more opportunities to learn from their international counterparts.
“Season 2 is about raising the level of competition. We want our Filipino players to be tested by international athletes, different playing styles and different competitive backgrounds, while giving overseas players a chance to experience the energy and talent of Philippine pickleball,” said Talusan.
Season 2 runs until Nov. 27, with matches scheduled on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Among the featured players for the new season are Filipino-British Mikar Fisher and Filipina-Australian Crystal Mildwaters, who will join international players Amore Cook, Cody Temple and Nico Almeida in the tournament.
Also worth watching is local ace Bien Zoleta-Manalac, who just a month ago helped the Philippine soft tennis team win a bronze medal in the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.