Team Philippines captures gold at 2025 Asia Pacific Padel Cup

Team Philippines proved its dominance on the international stage after ruling the 2025 Asia Pacific Padel Cup (APPC), sweeping seven other nations on its way to the championship over the weekend.

Led by Padel Pilipinas chairperson Senator Pia Cayetano, the Filipino squad capped its unbeaten run with a commanding 3-0 victory over Hong Kong in the finals.

 Veteran Johnny Arcilla, a long-time Philippine tennis star now excelling in padel, bagged the men’s MVP award, while Asia-Pacific No. 2 Joanna Tao Yee Tan shone as the women’s MVP.

The Philippines opened the tournament in fiery fashion, blanking Pakistan 5-0 on Day 1 before dispatching Hong Kong 4-1 in the group stage. They followed up with a 4-1 win against host Malaysia, then steamrolled South Korea 5-0 in the quarterfinals.

In the semis, the Filipinos once again crossed paths with Malaysia and repeated their mastery with a quick 3-0 sweep to punch their ticket to the title match. Hong Kong fought hard in the finals, but the Philippines sealed the deal with another clean 3-0 result, delivering the gold medal in style.

Malaysia eventually secured bronze, while other participating nations included India, Singapore, Thailand, and Pakistan. The event was staged with Turkish Airlines as its main sponsor.

The Philippine Padel Team are the Champions of the Turkish Airlines Asia Pacific Padel Cup!

With Team Manager Jeff Cheng and Senator Pia Cayetano.#LabanFilipinas pic.twitter.com/xBfV6Cwwyt

— Venice Furio (@VenNotBen) September 1, 2025

Padel is one of the world’s fastest-growing racket sports, often described as a mix between tennis and squash.

 Played in doubles on an enclosed court about one-third the size of a tennis court, the sport uses solid paddles and a depressurized tennis ball. The glass and mesh walls surrounding the court are part of the game, allowing for longer rallies and more dynamic play.

Unlike tennis, serving is done underhand, and strategy often outweighs pure power, making the sport accessible to a wider range of athletes.

 Padel’s popularity has surged in recent years across Europe, Latin America, and Asia, with international competitions like the APPC accelerating its growth in the region.

For Cayetano, Arcilla, Tan, and the rest of Padel Pilipinas, the victory in Kuala Lumpur marked a major milestone for the Philippines as it continues to establish itself as a rising power in the sport. With both men’s and women’s MVP honors going to Filipinos, the triumph underscored the country’s potential on the Asia-Pacific stage.

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