Cebuana Lhuillier has joined the Pickle Yard Conference League (PYCL), marking a major milestone for the team and signaling strong institutional support for one of the fastest-growing sports in the Philippines.
The partnership was solidified through a recent MOA signing, reinforcing Cebuana Lhuillier’s commitment to advancing pickleball at a competitive level while expanding its advocacy in developing Filipino athletic talent through the Cebuana Lhuillier Sports program.
Present at the signing were key leaders from both organizations such as Jean Henri Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO; Philip Pagon, chief operations officer of The Pickle Yard Project; John Talusan, chief executive officer of The Pickle Yard Project; and Mai Sun, chief of the franchise and development office of The Pickle Yard Project.
“This is more than competition, it’s about expanding opportunities and deepening our impact through sports,” said Lhuillier.
“As pickleball continues to grow, it offers a powerful platform to inspire communities and elevate Filipino talent. Through the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems, we remain committed to helping athletes move forward and reach their full potential.”
Cebuana Lhuillier, known as Gems for its monicker, will compete in PYCL’s inaugural season under a double round-robin format totaling 14 matches.
Each team matchup will feature five sets — men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and two mixed doubles events — with all six players rotating every four points to maximize strategy and team depth.
Key milestones began with the Private Draft at The Pickle Yard SOMO and the subsequent Public Draft on Feb. 28.
The PYCL season officially opens on March 7. The quarterfinals is on April 25–26 and the medal games are scheduled on May 2–3.
Throughout the league season, Cebuana Lhuillier will roll out on-ground brand activations, including a Gold Bar booth and a corporate showcase, alongside potential participation from partners such as Araw Properties—reinforcing Cebuana Lhuillier’s role in elevating the league beyond competition into a broader movement for sport and shared progress.