World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters is the headliner in Manila for the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase, Franklin Sports' fan tour of Asia. Philippine media put her visit at 13-15 October 2026. Manila is the tour's first stop; it moves on to Kuala Lumpur on 17 October and Hong Kong on 18 October, with Vietnam still to come.
The schedule is out. On Tuesday 13 October she has three fan meet-ups, at Decathlon in Pasig and at Chris Sports and PickleLab in BGC. On Wednesday 14 October she headlines the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay.
Follow her day live: Anna Leigh Waters in the Philippines: live updates.
Anna Leigh Waters in Manila: the facts so far
Detail | Manila leg |
|---|---|
Event | Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase |
Dates | Public events on 13 and 14 October 2026. The Daily Tribune, DZRH and SunStar reported a 13-15 October visit |
Headliner | Anna Leigh Waters, world No. 1 |
Organiser | Franklin Sports, with Toby's Sports and SM Supermalls on 14 October |
Planned | A media-only press conference with IAM Worldwide (Philstar); date and venue not public |
Venue and times | Tue 13 Oct: Decathlon Pasig 13:30, Chris Sports BGC 15:45, PickleLab BGC 17:30. Wed 14 Oct: SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, Pasay, show at 16:00 |
Tickets | 14 Oct show: buy qualifying Franklin gear at Toby's Sports, then register online. No price published. 13 Oct meet-ups: see the schedule below |
Next stop | Kuala Lumpur, 17 October 2026, tickets on sale |
What's happening in Manila
Franklin Sports announced the trip on 21 September, with Waters at the top of the bill. On 6 October Philstar reported that her Manila programme includes a press conference and an exhibition match for fans.
Franklin Sports and IAM Worldwide are presenting the press conference together. The Philippine wellness company has signed Waters as its Global Sports Ambassador, and her first job for it is a 60-second ad for IAM Amazing Organic Barley Gummies (The Manila Times).
Franklin is bringing gear news too. Its X-40 is already the official ball of Manny Pacquiao's Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour (MPPT), and the X-44, a faster ball Waters endorses, is due around the end of the year. The all-black mystery paddle Waters used to win the MLP finals, known so far only as the "?" paddle, is expected to make an appearance.
Her Manila schedule
Date and time (PHT) | Event | Venue | How to get in |
|---|---|---|---|
Tue 13 Oct, 13:30 | Decathlon x Franklin Meet & Dink | Decathlon Pasig, Tiendesitas, Pasig City | 15 fans picked from a sign-up that closed 8 Oct |
Tue 13 Oct, 15:45 | Meet Anna Leigh Waters | Chris Sports, One Bonifacio High Street, BGC, Taguig | Not stated |
Tue 13 Oct, 17:30 | Meet, photo and Franklin paddle signing | PickleLab, SM Aura Premier, BGC, Taguig | Open invitation, no registration stated |
Wed 14 Oct, 16:00 | Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase | SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, Pasay | Qualifying Franklin purchase at Toby's Sports, then online registration |
Decathlon x Franklin Meet & Dink, Tuesday 13:30
Decathlon Philippines picked 15 fans for this meet-up from a sign-up that closed on 8 October, and no purchase was needed.
Where: Decathlon Pasig, Building C, Tiendesitas, Ortigas Avenue corner C5, Pasig City
Source: Decathlon Philippines, sign-up form and Instagram
Meet Anna Leigh Waters at Chris Sports, Tuesday 15:45
Chris Sports is hosting a meet with Waters at its One Bonifacio High Street store but has not said how entry works.
Where: Chris Sports, 2nd floor, One Bonifacio High Street, BGC, Taguig
Source: Chris Sports on Instagram
PickleLab meet and paddle signing, Tuesday 17:30
PickleLab PH has posted an open invitation to meet Waters, get a photo and have a Franklin paddle signed, with no registration stated.
Where: PickleLab, 4/F SM Aura Premier, BGC, Taguig
Source: PickleLab PH on Facebook
Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase, Wednesday 16:00
Franklin, Toby's Sports and SM Supermalls put on showdown matches with and against Philippine pros and celebrities, live performances and a paddle signing.
Experience Zones open at 12:00, registration starts at 14:00 and the show starts at 16:00. To get in:
- Buy qualifying Franklin gear at Toby's Sports SM MOA, Flagship BGC or SM The Block between 8 and 14 October.
- Scan the QR code on the receipt and register online for Courtside, Lower Box or Gallery.
- Bring the confirmation email and the original receipt on the day.
Places are limited and go first come, first served. The cap per person is 3 for Gallery, 3 for Lower Box and 2 for Courtside. No price has been published.
Where: SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, Pasay
Source: Toby's Sports on Instagram and SM Mall of Asia on Instagram
Franklin Sports and IAM Worldwide are also presenting a media-only press conference during the visit. The date and venue are not public.
Next stop is Kuala Lumpur on Saturday 17 October, where tickets are on sale from RM159 and the VIP packs include a photo with Waters. Our Franklin Asia Showcase 2026 guide has every pack and price.
Which Franklin pros could appear
Franklin's announcement lists its pro roster: Hayden Patriquin, Parris Todd, Will Howells, Jimmy Liong, Sofia Sewing, Casey Diamond, Megan Fudge and Ryler DeHeart. Philippine reports name them as Franklin athletes, not as confirmed Manila guests, so don't count on any of them until Franklin says so.
Why Franklin chose the Philippines
"The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing pickleball markets in the world," said Jared Franklin, Franklin's Head of International. Franklin puts growth there at 1,213% year on year. That is the company's own number.
You can already buy Franklin gear in the Philippines at Decathlon, Toby's Sports, Chris Sports and Juego PH, among others, and the X-40 is the MPPT's official ball.
Anna Leigh Waters in Asia so far
This isn't her first trip to Asia. Waters made her international debut at the PPA Tour Asia MB Hanoi Cup in April 2026 and won double gold, then headlined the Franklin Asia Showcase in Ho Chi Minh City. We were at both:
The Franklin Asia tour in 2026
Stop | Dates | Status on 13 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Manila, Philippines | 13-14 October (events) | Meet-ups on 13 Oct; show on 14 Oct at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, entry with a Franklin purchase at Toby's Sports |
17 October | 91 Pickleball, Hextar World @ Empire City; tickets on sale | |
18 October | Stackd Pickleball, Wan Chai; GA and VIP sold out. Waters then plays the Hong Kong Slam, 19-25 October | |
Vietnam | Not announced | No details yet |
Frequently asked questions
When is Anna Leigh Waters in Manila?
Her public events are on Tuesday 13 October, with three fan meet-ups in Pasig and BGC, and on Wednesday 14 October, when she headlines the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase. Philippine media reported the visit as 13-15 October 2026.
Where is the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase in Manila?
At the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay on Wednesday 14 October 2026. Experience Zones open at 12:00, registration at 14:00 and the show starts at 16:00.
How do I get tickets to see Anna Leigh Waters in Manila?
For the 14 October show, buy qualifying Franklin gear at Toby's Sports SM MOA, Flagship BGC or SM The Block between 8 and 14 October, scan the QR code on the receipt and register online, then bring the confirmation email and the original receipt. Places are limited and first come, first served, and no price has been published. Of the Tuesday meet-ups, PickleLab's is an open invitation, Decathlon's sign-up closed on 8 October and Chris Sports hasn't said how entry works. The Kuala Lumpur leg on 17 October already has tickets on sale through The Pickle Parlour.
Is this Anna Leigh Waters' first time in Asia?
No. She made her international debut at the PPA Tour Asia MB Hanoi Cup in April 2026, where she won double gold, and played the Franklin Asia Showcase in Ho Chi Minh City the same month.
What is IAM Worldwide's link to Anna Leigh Waters?
IAM Worldwide, a Philippine wellness company, has made Waters its Global Sports Ambassador, and it is co-presenting her Manila press conference with Franklin Sports.
Where else is the Franklin Asia Pickleball Showcase going?
After Manila it goes to Kuala Lumpur on 17 October 2026 and to Stackd Pickleball in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, on 18 October. The Vietnam date hasn't been announced.
Last updated 13 October 2026. More Franklin news.
Follow @thepicklebase for Waters' whole Asia trip.