National players Ruben Gonzales and Kelsey Laurente are ready to take their games to a bigger stage as they compete in the Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam starting Sunday.

For Gonzales, a longtime member of the national lawn tennis team, the tournament offers a fresh challenge in a sport he only started playing in 2024 but has quickly embraced with the same competitive drive that carried him through a long international career.

Gonzales will join the 38-man Filipino delegation led by Nik Isagan and Fatima Amirul in the prestigious 70-nation tournament bannered by powerhouse United States and hosts Vietnam.

“It’s really important. It’s my first World Cup, the first time representing the Philippines in pickleball, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Gonzales said in an episode of “Off the Court,” the weekly online sports show of DAILY TRIBUNE on Thursday.

“Obviously, I have a long career in tennis doing that, so doing it in a different sport, I think, is really special.”

Gonzales enters the competition battle-tested after playing in two Professional Pickleball Association events in the United States last month.

A former Division I collegiate tennis player in the United States and now a registered nurse, Laurente said representing the Philippines remains a unique honor.

“It’s such an honor. It’s a unique experience for me, and representing the Philippines, as I come from the US, it’s really a one-of-a-kind experience, especially for me,” said Laurente, whose parents hail from Cebu.

The three-year pickleball veteran traveled to the Philippines a week early to familiarize herself with her teammates and build chemistry ahead of the tournament. She also identified Australia and the United Kingdom as teams to watch.

“That’s the majority of my friends in the Philippines, and I really wanted to work on our chemistry,” Laurente said.

“I think there’s also Australia to watch out for. I also saw the UK as well. They have pretty strong teams.”

Philippine Pickleball Federation president Shery Cu believes the squad has a solid chance of pulling off a few surprises in the World Cup.

“That is why all eyes are on us. They want to see what we can bring. And many will be surprised,” Cu said.

“We want to make an impression. We are hoping for a podium finish. We expect a good finish in this World Cup.”