Conference League Returns with Bigger International Field
Pickle Yard Conference League Season 2 opened October 24 with eight franchises and an expanded international field in Bacoor, Cavite. The month-long competition runs through November 27, bringing Filipino and overseas pickleball players together at The Pickle Yard SOMO.
PYCL Season 2 Expands International Competition
Tiebreaker Times outlined a second-season field featuring Filipino players alongside international competitors representing several different competitive backgrounds. PYCL commissioner John Regison Talusan identified raising competition levels as the central objective behind the league’s expanded international participation.
Season 2 features Mikar Fisher, Crystal Mildwaters, Amore Cook, Cody Temple, and Nico Almeida among its notable participating players. Fisher is Filipino-British, while Mildwaters is Filipina-Australian, adding further international representation to the month-long competition in Bacoor.
Image from: PYCL / Facebook
Talusan Explains League’s Development Goal
Talusan said PYCL wants Filipino players tested against international athletes while introducing overseas competitors to Philippine pickleball competition.
“Season 2 is about raising the level of competition. We want our Filipino players to be tested by international athletes, different playing styles and different competitive backgrounds, while giving overseas players a chance to experience the energy and talent of Philippine pickleball,” said Talusan.
His comments establish international competition as a central component of PYCL’s second-season approach rather than simply an expanded player roster.
Fisher, Mildwaters Head International Player Mix
Filipino-British player Fisher and Filipina-Australian Mildwaters headline the players bringing international backgrounds into the Season 2 competition. Cook, Temple, and Almeida further expand the overseas contingent competing alongside Philippine players throughout the league’s month-long schedule.
Their participation gives PYCL a broader player pool as eight franchises compete regularly at The Pickle Yard SOMO. The international group joins a Season 2 field designed around recurring team competition rather than a single weekend tournament.
Zoleta-Manalac Adds Asian Games Experience
Bien Zoleta-Manalac also joins the PYCL field after representing the Philippines in soft tennis at the 20th Asian Games. She helped the women’s team capture a historic bronze medal in Nagoya before joining the Season 2 pickleball competition.
Eight Franchises Compete Through November 27
PYCL Season 2 features eight franchises competing throughout a campaign scheduled from October 24 until November 27 in Bacoor. Matches take place across Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, creating multiple competition dates throughout the league’s month-long second season.
The eight-team structure places Filipino and international players across branded franchises competing for the Season 2 championship. All scheduled competition takes place at The Pickle Yard SOMO, establishing one primary venue throughout the campaign.
Eight Teams Chase the Season 2 Championship
The Season 2 field consists of eight franchises competing throughout the league’s schedule at The Pickle Yard SOMO in Bacoor:
- Thrifty Drivers
- Dentacare Pearly Whites
- Cartivo Movers
- Konjac Zero Phoenix Force
- GFOXX Paragon
- Black Mamba Aces
- Cebuana Lhuillier Gems
- DreamSkin Radiants
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Season 2 Builds Regular Team Competition in Cavite
The month-long format gives PYCL multiple matchdays each week rather than concentrating its second-season competition into one tournament weekend. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday matchdays continue through November 27 as the eight franchises progress through their scheduled contests.
Season 2 also places players within continuing team identities, distinguishing PYCL from competitions organized exclusively around individual tournament brackets. The format provides recurring franchise matchups while maintaining the league’s combination of Filipino players and international participants throughout the campaign.
PYCL Sets Four Matchdays Each Week
PYCL schedules competition across four days each week, with matches staged on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in Bacoor. The arrangement continues throughout the month-long campaign before Season 2 reaches its scheduled conclusion on November 27.
PYCL Expands Season 2 Media Distribution
Season 2 also carries a media lineup spanning television, streaming, digital platforms, and radio during the month-long competition. Listed partners include GMA News TV, SPOTV, Prime TV, Nudge Sports, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, Favorite Music Radio, and TrillerTV.
The distribution gives PYCL multiple platforms for Season 2 coverage beyond spectators attending matches at The Pickle Yard SOMO. GMA News TV and SPOTV are also listed among the outlets supporting coverage during the league’s second campaign.
Broadcast Partners Extend League’s Season 2 Reach
PYCL’s listed media partners cover television, streaming, digital, and radio channels throughout the competition scheduled through November 27. Their involvement provides several distribution outlets for audiences following the eight franchises and participating players away from the Bacoor venue.
Analytical Breakdown: Filipino Players Gain from Stronger Opposition
PYCL’s international field can expose Filipino players to unfamiliar tempos, positioning patterns, and tactical approaches across repeated competitive matches. Regular league play strengthens that benefit because players can identify weaknesses, make adjustments, and immediately test improvements against quality opposition. PYCL’s strongest development value comes from combining sustained high-level competition with greater visibility for emerging Philippine pickleball talent.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did PYCL Season 2 begin?
PYCL Season 2 opened October 24 and continues through November 27 at The Pickle Yard SOMO in Bacoor.
Where is PYCL Season 2 being played?
The second Pickle Yard Conference League season is being staged at The Pickle Yard SOMO in Bacoor City, Cavite.
How many teams are competing in PYCL Season 2?
Eight franchises are competing for the Pickle Yard Conference League Season 2 championship during the month-long Bacoor campaign.
Which international players are joining PYCL Season 2?
The Season 2 field includes Mikar Fisher, Crystal Mildwaters, Amore Cook, Cody Temple, and Nico Almeida among its players.
Is Bien Zoleta-Manalac playing in PYCL Season 2?
Yes, Zoleta-Manalac joins PYCL after helping the Philippines capture women’s soft tennis bronze at the 20th Asian Games.
Disclaimer: Headline Image from Daily Tribune.
