Vietnamese paddle brand Facolos signs pro player Gabe Tardio

Alex Lantz

Director of Content

Last Edited

Jan 12 2026

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News

World No. 2 men's player Gabe Tardio has signed a new paddle sponsorship deal with Facolos, a Vietnamese brand that will be entering the U.S. paddle market in 2026.

Facolos said in a news release that the deal is part of a broader effort to establish the company as a leading Asian pickleball brand with global ambitions.

As part of the deal, which runs through 2027, Tardio will use Facolos’ flagship Pro Series paddle, the EliteX, which is "engineered for exceptional grip, spin and precise control." Facolos and Tardio will also collaborate on a co-branded collection that includes paddles, accessories and pickleball apparel.

“I’m truly honored to partner with Facolos for the next chapter of my career,” Tardio said. “When choosing a brand to partner with, paddle performance was my top priority — and I found exactly what I needed in Facolos’ Pro line, especially the EliteX. Beyond that, Facolos stands out for its strong focus on research, development and rapid product innovation tailored to players’ needs. Their commitment to sustainable growth also resonated deeply with me. I’m excited about what we can achieve together — both in my career milestones and in helping drive Facolos’ disruptive development on the global stage.”

In addition to the Tardio deal, Facolos will also be a paddle sponsor for the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball moving forward.

“Facolos is committed to a long-term development strategy in which partnering with world-class athletes plays a pivotal role," said Võ Trần Quỳnh Trang, Vice General Director of Facolos. "This collaboration is a strategic investment to elevate product quality, raise performance standards, and strengthen the position of Asian pickleball on the international stage. Gabriel Tardio is a young, exceptionally talented athlete with an impressive competitive record and a deep passion for the sport. He is constantly driven to reach new heights in his professional career. That mindset perfectly aligns with Facolos’ vision of supporting players at every level of development.”

Trang said Tardio was a great fit for the brand because the 20-year-old Bolivian can be a bridge between Asian pickleball and the game globally. She said his style and influence will be popular in a fast-growing market and envisions the partnership as a long-term development plan.

There were multiple other companies rumored to have made offers to Tardio, but Facolos ultimately was the best fit, he said, crediting the paddle's performance as well as the brand's strategy for the next several years.

In 2025 Tardio partnered with World No. 1 Ben Johns to win 9 gold medals on the PPA Tour, and also won a gold medal with Tyson McGuffin at the Australia Pickleball Open. In mixed doubles he won 3 medals with Jessie Irvine (2 silver, 1 bronze) and also won two singles titles last year.

His partnership with Johns is expected to continue throughout 2026, and he will be teaming up with Catherine Parenteau in mixed doubles moving forward.

He was previously signed with PIKKL.

What to know about Facolos Pickleball

- While Facolos may still be relatively unknown to many players in the U.S., the brand is already a well-established name across Asia, with a growing international presence. The company was founded just over a year ago and has seen rapid growth.

- Facolos is currently active in 13 countries, mostly in Asia but coming to the U.S. soon.

- The brand already has partnerships with many of the top players in Asia.

- Facolos is already an official sponsor of PPA Tour Asia.

About the EliteX paddle

- The EliteX model is one of Facolos' best-selling and flagship paddles. It has been on the market for nearly a year and is highly popular across multiple countries.

- The paddle features one of the grittiest surfaces available on the market today, while still complying with international competition standards and being approved by the UPA-A and USA Pickleball.

- The gritty surface delivers exceptional spin, making the EliteX a top choice for player who rely on shaping the ball with heavy topspin.

- The paddle is designed to offer a good balance between control and power, making it versatile and suitable for a wide range of players.

What Facolos' entrance into pro pickleball means going forward

It's clear from Monday's announcement that Facolos is looking to aggressively enter the U.S. market, as well as expand their footprint in other areas of the world where pickleball is gaining popularity.

We've seen some U.S.-based brands like JOOLA and Franklin try to gain a foothold in Asia recently, but we haven't seen many Asian brands try to compete with the top U.S. brands in the states up until now.

It will be interesting to see how their strategy works in the coming months, and whether other brands that are popular overseas will make similar moves.

We definitely expect the space to become more dynamic and competitive, and Facolos is certainly a brand worth watching in the paddle landscape.

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