PROTECT THE PLAYERS: Philippine Padel Athlete Legal Fund

Four Filipino padel athletes prepared for one of the biggest opportunities of their sporting lives: to represent the Philippines at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. 🇵🇭

They were nominated by the Philippine Padel Association (PPA) following a process based on sporting experience, competitive level, international representation and readiness to represent the country.

Their athlete profiles, credentials and required information were submitted to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). PPA was subsequently informed that their Asian Games registrations had been submitted, and on 11 August 2026, all four athletes appeared on the official Asian Games athlete list publicly released by the POC.

The four athletes were:

🇵🇭 Rovanny Conle Castillo

🇵🇭 Jessica Lucas

🇵🇭 Mhar Joseph Serra

🇵🇭 Manuel Balce III

They continued preparing in good faith for the opportunity to represent the Philippines.

Then, weeks before the Asian Games, PPA was informed that all four had been replaced.

PPA did not withdraw their nominations. We did not agree to their replacement.

The affected athletes had committed their time, training and resources toward representing their country. They deserve to understand how and why an opportunity that had progressed as far as registration and public announcement was taken away.

Why we are taking action

From the beginning, PPA has advocated for fair, transparent and merit-based athlete selection.

Our concern is not about attacking the athletes who have subsequently been selected. They are Filipino athletes too.

We are fighting for our players, not against other players.

This is about something much bigger: whether Filipino athletes can trust that opportunities to represent their country will be determined through transparent sporting criteria, applicable rules and proper process.

PPA is therefore pursuing the matter through the appropriate legal and international sporting channels.

We are seeking professional legal representation to protect the affected athletes, establish what process was followed, ensure that the applicable rules are respected, and determine the appropriate remedies available.

Why this matters beyond four players

Padel is growing rapidly in the Philippines.

The decisions made today will help shape how future generations of Filipino padel players are selected and represented internationally.

Every athlete who spends years training, competing, travelling and sacrificing for their sport should be able to believe that if they earn an opportunity to represent the Philippines, they will receive fair consideration and proper process.

No athlete should feel that sporting opportunity depends on which organization they belong to, who they know, or how much influence they have.

The standard should be the same for everyone:

Ability. Merit. Fairness. Transparency.

Why we need your help

Taking this matter through the proper legal and sporting channels requires professional representation, and that comes at a significant cost.

PPA has now received a formal legal proposal for representation concerning the Asian Games athlete-selection dispute.

The initial acceptance retainer alone is ₱112,000 including VAT, followed by ongoing hourly professional fees. The firm also requires an initial ₱20,000 deposit for out-of-pocket expenses, with additional costs potentially arising from hearings, filings, transportation, transcripts and other necessary legal work.

We are therefore seeking to raise:

₱500,000

Funds raised through the PROTECT THE PLAYERS: Philippine Padel Athlete Legal Fund will be used toward legal retainers, professional legal fees, research and preparation, hearings and filings, and other directly related expenses required to pursue this matter.

We are committed to using these funds responsibly and transparently for the purpose for which they are raised.

What we are asking for

We are not asking for special treatment.

We are asking for fairness.

We are asking for transparency.

We are asking for proper process.

And above everything else, we are asking that the athletes at the heart of this situation are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

We want the Philippines represented at the Asian Games.

We want Filipino athletes on court.

And we want a system that every Filipino padel player can trust.

If you believe athletes deserve a fair opportunity to represent their country, please stand with us.

Whether you donate, share this campaign, or simply help our athletes' voices be heard, your support matters.

PROTECT THE PLAYERS. 🇵🇭

Fairness. Transparency. Proper Process.