Viet Panthers launched on September 29 in Ho Chi Minh City as Vietnam's team for the inaugural MLP Asia season. The launch took place at GEM Center and covered the roster, the team's brand identity, and its home venue plans.
The team is backed by Ascend Sports Partners (ASP). It also brings MLP Asia's team-based format to Vietnam for the first time.
The season begins on November 13, 2026. Six competition days run through November, followed by the semifinals and finals in December. Viet Panthers will host their home competition day on November 21.
A Roster Built Around Proven Doubles Pairs
Viet Panthers named six players for the inaugural season. Four are Vietnamese, and two are U.S.-based.
Player | Origin | Notable 2026 result |
Quan Do (Captain) | Vietnam | Men's Doubles gold with Hien Truong at the Beijing Open and the Ho Chi Minh City Open |
Hien Truong | Vietnam | Men's Doubles gold with Quan Do at the Beijing Open and the Ho Chi Minh City Open |
Sophia Nhi Huynh | Vietnam | Women's Doubles gold with Ho Tam at the Shenzhen Open in August |
Ho Tam | Vietnam | Women's Doubles gold with Sophia Nhi Huynh at the Shenzhen Open in August |
Tama Shimabukuro | U.S.-based | 10-time PPA Tour Asia medalist |
Kaitlyn Christian | U.S.-based | Seven-time Asia medalist and Women's Singles champion at the Leapmotor Kuala Lumpur Cup |
Do and Truong won their golds on the PPA Tour Asia, at the Capital Securities Beijing Open and the MB Ho Chi Minh City Open. Huynh and Tam won theirs at the Skechers Shenzhen Open.
Christian's Kuala Lumpur Cup title came earlier this month, which puts a Malaysian result on the roster sheet. Read more in our Kuala Lumpur Cup coverage.
The team says it built the roster around complementary playing styles, experience and chemistry. Those traits carry extra weight in MLP's team-based format.
Ascend Sports Partners Wants a Vietnamese Sports Brand That Travels
ASP invests in, develops and operates sport with a long-term view. It wants to connect teams, competitions, athlete development, media and brand partnerships into one ecosystem. Its stated goal is to become one of Asia's leading sports investment and development organisations.
According to Adam (Thach) Tran, CEO and Founder of ASP, Vietnam should be
"More than a destination for international events."
Tran said ASP wants competitive teams and sports business models built in Vietnam that can grow across the region.
Viet Panthers is one of ASP's first concrete steps toward that goal. The company is also working toward MLP Vietnam and youth talent development programmes. Both are meant to connect professional competition with the wider community.
Home Matches at AP Sports Club 2
AP Sports Club is the official home venue of Viet Panthers. Under current plans, AP Sports Club 2 will have a dedicated competition court and seating for about 1,000 spectators.
That court will host the team's matches on November 21 and give the team a place to build its fan community. Viet Panthers also revealed its official 2026 jersey and a first merchandise collection called "The First Pack."
Six Competition Days Before the December Finals
Vietnamese players already have results on the PPA Tour Asia. MLP Asia now gives them a professional team to play for, alongside international teammates. For background on how the regional circuit has grown, see our PPA Tour Asia coverage and our Ho Chi Minh City Open recap.
Players in Southeast Asia who want to build partnerships like Do and Truong can find a coach at coach.thepicklebase.com, and more regional coverage is on Instagram at @thepicklebase.