21/05/2026
To the PPL Mindanao organizers and the pickleball community,
We respectfully raise our concern regarding the semifinal match (Men's Doubles Advanced Category) incident during the recent tournament, where players were officially instructed by the umpire that the game format was “race to 15” instead of the prescribed “race to 11.”
The players, who are minors, relied in good faith on the authority and instructions of the assigned official. The match proceeded under those instructions until the game (score 12-12) was later stopped by the organizers after the teams had already changed courts at 8 points.
This situation created confusion, disrupted the flow of the match, and affected the fairness and integrity of the competition. The players should not bear the consequences of an officiating and administrative error beyond their control.
In the spirit of sportsmanship, fairness, and accountability, we respectfully call on the PPL Mindanao to conduct a proper review and declare the championship match null and void pending a fair resolution of the semifinal dispute.
This statement is not intended to attack any individual, team, or official, but rather to uphold the principles of fair play and protect young athletes who trusted the decisions made during official competition.
We hope this matter will be handled with transparency, professionalism, and fairness for all parties involved.
