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What a 16-Year-Old Pickleball Champion Taught Us at SM City Bicutan
- Dara Clariza Evangelista
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
There is something simple yet powerful about stepping outside. Not for a major workout or a strict routine, but just to move. To breathe. To feel present again.
It is easy to underestimate how much staying indoors can affect us. Long hours on screens, constant scrolling, and minimal movement quietly take a toll. Not just physically, but mentally too. Energy drops, focus slips, and even motivation becomes harder to sustain.
During the anniversary of the Active Hub at SM City Bicutan, Shine Magazine was able to interview Mackonner Dy, a 16-year-old pickleball player from Canada, a national champion and Canadian National Pro League draft pick. Despite his age, his perspective on movement and health felt grounded and direct.
“We weren’t designed to stay indoors all day. We’re meant to move, go outside, and stay active.”
It was a reminder that staying healthy is not always about intensity or discipline. Sometimes, it starts with simply choosing to step outside.
He mentioned that staying active does not have to be tied to one sport. It can be anything that gets you moving, as long as it breaks the habit of staying indoors. The goal is not perfection. It is consistency.
For him, pickleball stands out because of how it brings people together.
“What makes pickleball different is that it’s social. You’re constantly interacting, talking, playing with others.”
He shared that this social aspect makes it easier to stay consistent. Unlike more solitary activities, pickleball creates an environment where people naturally connect, making movement feel lighter and more enjoyable.
He also mentioned how accessible the sport is. Beginners can pick it up quickly, especially those with a background in other sports. The learning curve is not as steep, which makes it less intimidating for first-timers. In spaces like the Active Hub at He also mentioned how accessible the sport is. Beginners can pick it up quickly, especially those with a background in other sports. The learning curve is not as steep, which makes it less intimidating for first-timers. In spaces like the Active Hub at SM City Bicutan, this kind of accessibility becomes even more apparent, where people can casually step in, try the game, and feel part of it almost immediately., this kind of accessibility becomes even more apparent, where people can casually step in, try the game, and feel part of it almost immediately.
At the same time, he pointed out that pickleball is not overly strenuous. The smaller court and more manageable pace make it possible for people of different ages to play. He has seen players in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s stay active through the sport, something that may be harder to sustain in more physically demanding activities.
At the Active Hub in SM City Bicutan, that accessibility becomes visible. During its anniversary, the space filled with players of different levels, from beginners trying their first rally to more experienced players finding their rhythm. It felt open, social, and easy to step into.
And maybe that is what staying healthy looks like now. Not rigid routines or pressure to perform, but spaces and activities that make it easier to show up.
Because in the end, movement does not have to be complicated. It just has to happen.
