SM Supermalls expands its nationwide presence for Pickleball

Pickleball continues to find its home in SM Supermalls.

Through the SM Sports and Lifestyle Center (SLC), SM expands its permanent pickleball court locations to SM Center Shaw and SM Center Muntinlupa, giving the all-inclusive sport, its athletes, and enthusiasts even more venues for their next friendly or competitive matches. Because of this, SM closed 2025 with 61 court locations across the Philippines with 37 total permanent courts—the largest among mall operators.

 

SM empowers the thriving local pickleball scene with maxed-out sports experiences for picklers and the active lifestyle community nationwide. Through its launch of SM Active Hub, the country's largest sports playground, partnered with SM SLC's mission of revolutionizing fitness and sports engagement in the country, it encourages tournament play, friendly competition, and fun bonding moments.

“SM launched SM Active Hub in March last year with the strong intention of giving athletes, sports enthusiasts, and even casual players alike high-quality and easily accessible spaces that can house their best sports experiences—whether that's lighthearted fun or high adrenaline competition,” said Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing. “Closing 2025 with our largest pickleball court locations while adding two new permanent courts in SM Center Shaw and SM Center Muntinlupa in Metro Manila is evidence that sports remains not just a strong interest, but a new way of life for our customers.”

Opened in partnership with Paloo, the pickleball court locations of SM Center Shaw and SM Center Muntinlupa boast three outdoor and four indoor permanent courts respectively, both intuitively designed to accommodate experienced and novice players, with accessible rates.

The Home of Elevated Sports Experiences

Through Active Hub, SM gave local picklers the ultimate spot to maximize movement and active lifestyles, meeting the athletic appetite of customers through its modular court approach. With the integration of the SM Malls Online app, players can easily sign up to be part of the community, discover upcoming events, and gain exclusive access to the best deals that maximize experiences they'll love.

 

“On top of the permanent courts, we also have 24 semi-permanent courts all over the country to accommodate the maximum amount of activity our customers seek,” said San Agustin.

This holistic approach has made SM the favorite go-to pickleball hangout place for customers, almost doubling the 44 courts initially constructed through the rise of interest in the sport. Also following strong demand and fully booked courts until the end of 2025, SM's upcoming thrust focuses on building more permanent courts to increase its inventory to close to 80 in 2026.

“The high volume of bookings across all our courts hints that pickleball isn't an exclusive sport—anyone can play. And because it is inclusive and easy to learn, SM saw this as an opportunity to naturally drive active lifestyles for our customers,” said San Agustin.

A Favorite for Maxed-out pickleball gatherings

Active Hub caters to a wide group of picklers—from competitive enthusiasts to casual first timers looking to play or find a new and fun bonding activity with their friends, every kind of player can find an event that encourages them to keep playing.

 

Out-of-the-box creative concepts like the Glow Ball pickleball event giving the game a fun and exciting glow in the dark twist, while enrichment activities such as free coached Pickleball Clinics encouraged newbies and young players to try the sport out.

 

Active Hub is also home of the major competition SM Pickleball Super Series in partnership with Toby's Sports running alongside local tournaments and events.

It initiated the Pickleball Power Tour with Filipino-American, world-ranked pro-athlete Lauren Mercado igniting passion for the sport among the next generation of players. The event was such a massive hit that SM will be hosting a second iteration within the first half of 2026.

 

“This is a testament to SM's desire of hosting the most creative and commercially attuned sports events that our customers can always look forward to. As long as the Filipino desire for community and activity remains ablaze, SM is determined to continually give that passion for sports a home,” said San Agustin.

Join SM Active Hub

SM Active Hub is the premier sports and fitness initiative by SM Supermalls, offering a dynamic and inclusive environment for sports lovers across the Philippines. Designed to bring communities together, SM Active Hub provides accessible venues, expert-led training, and exciting events that cater to all levels of fitness and athleticism.

Don’t miss out! Discover a range of SM Active Hub events on the SM Malls Online app and be the first to earn rewards, discounts, and freebies: http://click.smmallsonline.com/DFqS/SMACTIVEHUB (SM Supermalls)

19,000 Runners Conquer the Galaxy Manila Marathon at SM Mall of Asia

With its scenic bayside roads, iconic landmarks, and world-class facilities, SM Mall of Asia stands as the preferred destination for the nation’s biggest marathons and runs

Thousands of runners dash off from the starting line at the Galaxy Manila Marathon’s gunstart, kicking off an exciting day of fitness and camaraderie at SM Mall of Asia.

The SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex cemented its place as the country’s ultimate marathon stage last Sunday, August 10, 2025, as 19,000 runners took over its scenic bayside roads for the Galaxy Manila Marathon, the nation’s biggest and most prestigious race.

SM Mall of Asia as the Country’s Marathon Stage

Runners visit the SM Active Hub booth at the Manila Marathon to sign up for exclusive perks, freebies, and special promos available through the SM Malls Online app.

Known for its wide, well-paved roads, breathtaking Manila Bay backdrop, and accessibility to major thoroughfares, hotels, and transport hubs, MOA is favored for large-scale marathons in the Philippines. What sets it further apart today is its robust role in everyday fitness through the SM Active Hub, recently launched as the Philippines’ largest and most inclusive sports playground. With 21 running hubs nationwide, including at MOA, and 44 pickleball courts across 21 SM malls, it stands as a game-changer in making fitness accessible and community-driven.

Runners cross the red-carpet finish line in high spirits at the 2025 Runrio Manila Marathon, held at the scenic SM Mall of Asia Complex.

The SM Active Hub launch on March 9, 2025, drew over 30,000 participants at MOA and beyond, featuring run club meetups, pickleball exhibitions, and exclusive perks for members via the SM Malls Online app. Designed to bring communities together, the initiative includes expert-led training programs and partnerships with major sports brands like Toby’s Sports, Asics, Under Armour, and more.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray joins the excitement at the Manila Marathon in SM Mall of Asia, taking on the 5K race alongside thousands of runners

The Galaxy Manila Marathon

Sanctioned by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, part of the World Athletics Rankings Competition, and certified by World Athletics, this year’s race featured 42K, 21K, 10K, and 5K categories with a total of PHP 700,000 in prizes—including PHP 100,000 each for the top male and female marathon finishers. The route wound through iconic Manila sites including Rizal Park, Intramuros, Roxas Boulevard, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex.

A proud 42K finisher poses with a supporter after completing the 2025 Runrio Manila Marathon at the SM Mall of Asia Complex on August 10, 2025.

The 2025 edition drew runners from over 16 countries and featured national athletes Christine Hallasgo, Artjoy Torregosa, Richard Salano, and Arlan Arbois. It also served as a qualifier for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Runners of all ages and paces take on the 2025 Runrio Manila Marathon, with the scenic SM Mall of Asia Complex as the vibrant race venue.

Post-race festivities at the MOA Race Village included free Angel’s Burger, taho, and dirty ice cream for finishers, with a live performance by OPM band Lola Amour. Gatorade was the Official Sports Drink, while Cristalino Spring served as the Official Hydration Partner.

OPM band Lola Amour serenades runners and spectators at the Galaxy Manila Marathon, filling SM Mall of Asia with their signature feel-good beats

With its unmatched blend of infrastructure, location, and year-round fitness amenities like the SM Active Hub and MOA Sky, SM Mall of Asia continues to be the home of the country’s biggest and most memorable runs. (SM Supermalls)