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| The stage is set for two APPT events in the Philippines at the end of February. Ivan Saldajeno |
MANDALUYONG—The Asia Pacific Padel Tour is coming to the Philippines.
The APPT will stage two events with the help of Padel Pilipinas to end February with a bang.
First, the APPT Manila Open will be held this weekend at Play Padel here.
Then, the following weekend, San Juan, Batangas, will host the APPT Batangas Open at the Palm Beach Resort.
"We are going to have APPT tournaments here in the Philippines for the first time this year, and we are super excited for this to happen," said Carlos Carillo, APPT's CEO, during the press launch of the said tournament series' Philippine stops on Thursday at Play Padel.
Hundreds of padel players are expected to join the two APPT events in Luzon especially since there will be two categories, the pro division and the amateur division.
"Our goal is to promote padel that I know in this country is still new, and we are still doing a big effort to get to know and educate what is this sport," Carillo added.
Joanna Tan, the number two ranked female padel player in the APPT rankings, will see action in the Manila Open, but she will be without her longtime partner Marian Capadocia.
Tan will team up this time with Mariam Garsin as they get an early grudge match against Tin Patrimonio and Bambi Zoleta right at the start of the pro women's event on Saturday.
For her national sports association's part, Padel Pilipinas executive director Jacqueline Gan said that the group is "very privileged and pleasured" to host the APPT, the first time the Philippines will be hosting an international padel event this year.
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