Ariella Arida Claims Two Gold Medals at Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026

Former Miss Universe Philippines Ariella Arida dominated Day 3 of the Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026 in Cebu City, sweeping the women's doubles 35+ and mixed doubles 35+ titles to become one of only two players in the five-day tournament to claim multiple gold medals.

Arida opened her golden run by teaming with Sherry Cu to defeat Chatty May and June Andrea Gonzales, 11–7, in the women's doubles 35+ final. The pair controlled the non-volley zone throughout, displaying soft hands in dink exchanges and sharp reflexes in volley battles, patiently constructing points before sealing them with crisp put-away volleys.

She returned to the court later the same day and completed her golden double, this time partnering with Christian Andres to beat Cu and Marc Tagle, 15–10, in the mixed doubles 35+ final. The pairing was notable for the role reversal: Cu, Arida's partner in the earlier women's final, became her opponent. Arida and Andres used deep returns, accurate crosscourt dinks and timely drives to dictate rallies, forcing errors while maintaining pressure at the kitchen line throughout the match.

The Alaminos, Laguna native has taken up pickleball only three years ago, yet her steady serves, crisp third-shot drops and calm net play reflected a player who has grown comfortable reading angles, constructing points and finishing rallies with confidence.

Christian Espinosa matched Arida's haul as the tournament's only other double gold medallist. He teamed with Jahleel Plasabas to rout John Paul Juaton and Benjohn Juaton, 15–2, in the men's doubles 20+ final, then partnered with Mary Seiw Yee to beat Janlady Fuentes and Dan Galang, 15–6, in the mixed doubles 20+ championship. Kevin Geniston and Andrei Sencio took bronze in the men's doubles 20+, while Sophia Calanog and Jarond Mesina finished third in the mixed doubles 20+.

The Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026, organised by Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. and Sunrise Events, Inc. and staged at the Net and Paddle courts in Cebu, was still in progress at the time of reporting, with titles in the High Intermediate division yet to be decided. Attention next shifts to the Rising Stars U19 Sectional Tournament, scheduled across Saturday and Sunday, where winners will earn berths in the PCL Asia Grand Finals set for April on Hainan Island, China.

Backed by PCL Asia and supported by Milo, Summit and Pocari Sweat, the tournament serves as a development platform for emerging Filipino pickleball talent. The sport's footprint in Cebu has grown steadily since a clinic first introduced it to the city in 2016, and the Kosmas Pickle Fest represents the clearest measure yet of how far that growth has come.