The Philippine Padel Association (PPA) hailed the FIP RISE Manila by BENCH Active 2024 as a groundbreaking success, marking the Philippines’ first-ever International Padel Federation (FIP)-sanctioned tournament.
The event highlighted the exceptional skills of top international padel players while giving Filipino athletes a platform to earn world-ranking points.
Hosted at the Manila Padel Club in Bonifacio Global City, the tournament brought together 122 players from 29 countries, competing across 61 teams for global ranking points and a prize pool of €12,500 (approximately P780,000).
“This is a defining moment for Philippine padel,” said PPA President Alenna Dawn Magpantay. “It showcased the incredible talent of our local athletes and proved our readiness to host world-class events, bringing us closer to becoming a global padel hub.”
Filipino players seized the opportunity to compete on an international stage, delivering notable performances. Jessica Agra and Alenna Magpantay led the Philippine contingent with quarterfinal finishes, while Bambi Zoleta, Christine Patrimonio, and Timothy Alonso reached the round of 16. Jason and John Michael Tamayo advanced to the round of 32.
Agra and Magpantay earned five world-ranking points each, enhancing their eligibility for future FIP-sanctioned tournaments.
Agra’s performance resulted in a remarkable 161-spot jump in the global rankings, now placing her at 378. Zoleta and Patrimonio earned two points each, while Jason Tamayo, John Michael Tamayo, and Timothy Alonso gained one point apiece.
The men’s final saw Spain’s S. Nogueras Lorenz and M. Bernils Garcia, seeded fifth, claim a hard-fought victory over third seeds J. Prins and S. Jones with a score of 7-5, 7-5.
In the women’s division, the British duo Aimee Gibson and Victoria Nicholas secured the championship after top seeds Rosalie Van der Hoek (Netherlands) and Carla Fernandez Gonzalez (Spain) withdrew due to injury.
