CEBU CITY – Team Velaris reaffirmed its status as one of the country’s rising forces in pickleball, edging Dinkasaurs, 21-19, to capture the PCL Rising Stars U19 Sectional Tournament title at the Net and Paddle courts here over the weekend.
Powered by Alva Bual, Mervic Jean Indagacan, Rose Bacaron and Sun Lacida, Team Velaris displayed nerves of steel in a championship duel packed with extended rallies, clever third-shot drops, and precise kitchen dinks that kept the crowd on edge until the final exchange.
The Velaris squad recovered from an early setback in women’s doubles before responding with disciplined net play and well-timed drives to claim victories in men’s doubles and the decisive mixed doubles matches, ultimately sealing the hotly contested gold medal and earning a berth in the PCL Asia Grand Finals.
The triumph followed another dramatic victory for the Velaris program just two week earlier in Davao, where Shesha Bree Biñas, Chrystelle Marjh Elisan, Izzy Lacida and Jacob Cagas pulled off a thrilling 23-21 victory over the SABR squad in the first PCL leg.
With the twin victories, Team Velaris further strengthened its claim as one of the country’s premier youth pickleball squads while securing another slot in the PCL Asia Grand Finals set in Hainan Island, China next month.
On its way to the finals of the centerpiece event capping the Pickle Fest 2026 organized by Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. and Sunrise Events Inc., Team Velaris topped Flight B in the elimination round, narrowly edging Dinkasaurs, 15-13, in total points to secure an automatic semifinal berth.
In Flight A, Cebu Pickle Warriors booked the other direct semis slot with 13 points, slipping past Archangel Pickleball Center, which pooled 10 points, for the outright entry.
Dinkasaurs fought its way back into the title picture through the knockout rounds, sweeping Toledo City Pickleball Club, 3-0, in the quarterfinal dream breaker, while Archangel Pickleball Center secured the last Final Four seat with a gritty 3-2 triumph over DND Zamboanga.
Velaris and Dinkasaurs then eliminated Archangel Pickleball Center and Cebu Pickle Warriors to arrange the dramatic gold medal showdown.
Dinkasaurs struck first in the back-and-forth finals, winning the women’s doubles behind its crisp net volleys and consistent baseline returns.
But Velaris refused to fold.
Bual and Lacida responded with aggressive serves, penetrating drives and controlled kitchen play to capture men’s doubles, setting the stage for a pair of tension-filled mixed doubles encounters.
Velaris then relied on patience at the non-volley zone and precise shot placement to outlast Dinkasaurs in a nerve-wracking finish that ultimately delivered the title.
With their victory, Team Velaris now turns its focus to the PCL Asia Grand Finals, where its young two squads hope to showcase their dynamic all-around game against the best rising pickleball teams in the region.
