Robinsons Land, Kosmas Raise the Bar for Philippine Pickleball
Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), through Robinsons Sports & Leisure (RSL), is working with Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corporation (KAVC) to raise the standard of Philippine pickleball through world-class facilities, elite coaching and pathways for players and coaches to grow with the sport.
As part of this shared vision, Kosmas tapped Johns Design & Consulting (JDC), the consultancy of professional players Collin and Ben Johns, as design consultant for Helios, the multi-story pickleball center rising in Bridgetowne.
Collin Johns recently visited the Helios site while he was in the country to conduct coaching clinics in Manila, Cebu and Davao. Johns sees the Philippines as part of pickleball’s wider surge across Asia, where the region’s strong culture of badminton, table tennis and tennis has created fertile ground for the sport.
“When even a small percentage of the country begins to play and they start to love pickleball, that makes the sport grow exponentially fast,” Johns said, adding that the Philippines is closing the gap with early adopters Vietnam and Malaysia.
That growth is increasing demand for better facilities and instruction—a progression Helios can help accelerate.
The eight-story, 17,500-square-meter sports and lifestyle facility will feature 25 professional-grade courts, including a stadium court, as well as retail and dining spaces. Envisioned as Asia’s first tournament-grade pickleball center, Helios is designed for players of all levels and major competitions.
Drawing on the Johns brothers’ high-level playing experience at venues worldwide, JDC advised the project team on multiple aspects of pickleball facility operations. “The lighting, the surfacing, the management, the flow of the facility, the social areas—everything is thought out,” he said, describing Helios as a potential “crown jewel facility of Asia.”
He added, “When people see that sort of standard, it’s going to set a benchmark for the entire region.”
Kim Lapus, president of KAVC, said JDC helped shape Helios into an indoor, climate-controlled venue capable of hosting international events. He added that its success would depend not only on the facility itself, but also on the area around it.
“For the players and for the spectators, everything is walking distance in Bridgetowne,” Lapus said, pointing to the estate’s Opus mall, restaurants and upcoming Fili Hotel. “You just can’t build a facility in the middle of nowhere and expect people to go there. This is a lot better because the whole ecosystem is here.”
Ramon Rivero, RLC Chief Strategy Officer and RSL Business Unit General Manager, described RSL as a natural extension of Robinsons Land’s portfolio. After developing malls, offices, homes, hotels, and more, he said the next step was to create places “where people play, where people enjoy, and where people bring out their best selves.”
While real estate is often measured in square meters, Rivero said RLC also looks at "the moments its developments create and the lives they help transform."
“That’s a measure we live by,” he said.
Players will get an early look at the Helios experience through Helios Beta, a temporary outdoor venue opening in Bridgetowne in October 2026. Select participants from Johns’ coaching clinics will have opportunities to coach there and, later, at Helios.
According to Johns, JDC’s role will continue beyond Helios’ design and completion through coaching opportunities, player development, programming support and community-building initiatives.
Rivero added that the facility could eventually anchor a broader network of tournament-grade courts across RLC’s nationwide footprint, with local qualifiers culminating in Bridgetowne.
“We owe it to the Filipinos to give them the best pickleball experience as much as possible,” Rivero said.
