Marcela “Cela” Hones brings high energy to the pickleball community both on and off the court.  She is known to be the ultimate 'hype girl' on the pro tour. With her big smile and contagious laugh, Marcela brings a huge presence of fun to pickleball.

 

Originally from Chicago, Marcela was raised in a tennis-driven household that lived and breathed the sport -- the result of her father and grandfather being ranked #1 in tennis in the Philippines and competing on the pro tour. Marcela excelled in junior tennis, achieving top 3 rankings in Illinois and top 10 in the Midwest. After seven years of dedication to competitive tennis, she paused her athletic pursuits to focus on her education and career. She earned her degree from DePaul University, where she played on the club tennis team to fulfill her competitive spirit, and moved to San Diego to work in tech and philanthropy.

 

As she navigated her new career, Marcela re-discovered her passion for tennis and transitioned to becoming a teaching pro. She quickly distinguished herself as a top-performing tennis coach in greater San Diego, launching engaging and successful programs for adults and children. In 2022, a co-worker from her tennis club introduced her to pickleball, and the rest is history. She never looked back and has been involved in this amazing sport of pickleball ever since.

 

In 2024, Marcela made her official debut as a touring pro on the PPA circuit, achieving career-high rankings of top 20 in singles and top 40 in doubles. In 2025, she was drafted to the Columbus Sliders team in Major League Pickleball, where she contributed to them winning the 2025 MLP Championship. 

 

When Marcela is not on tour, you can find her leading clinics across the country, enjoying time at the beach with her dog, or coaching at Paddles ‘n Peaks.