Gabe Tardio and Facolos gear up to grow pickleball across Asia

At 19, Gabe Tardio moved quickly from rising star to active product partner when he announced a collaboration with Facolos on January 13, 2026. The deal is framed less as a logo swap and more as a working relationship to translate PPA Tour experience into gear and grassroots programs that matter to players across Asia.

Facolos’ engineering and design teams are working directly with Tardio to co-create signature gear and professional-level paddles. That collaboration has already shifted the dynamic from athlete endorsement to hands-on development aimed at measurable on-court benefits for recreational and competitive players alike. “Having my input on paddle design, materials, and performance tweaks makes a huge difference,” Tardio shared. “It’s exciting to see a brand take an athlete’s experience and translate it into gear that other players can use to improve their game.”

The partnership aligns with Facolos’ rapid ascent. The brand is only one year old but has claimed notable milestones: in June 2024 Facolos became the first Vietnamese pickleball brand to gain official recognition in the U.S. market; by August 2024 it had delivered nearly 50,000 products and certified three paddle models and one ball model to international standards; and in October 2024 it signed a partnership agreement with the World Pickleball Championship. Those facts give the Tardio collaboration context: this is a startup moving fast and aiming to compete on product quality and regional programming as much as on marketing.

For players in Asia the practical upside is clear. Athlete-informed paddles mean earlier access to designs refined by a touring pro, and certified models signal reliability for club players and tournament entrants. Facolos’ regional programs, combined with Tardio’s visibility, are poised to boost local participation and create more competitive pathways from community courts to regional events.

Beyond gear, the deal is built on narrative and activations. Facolos plans content and event work centered on Tardio’s journey, which should bring more pro-led coaching clinics, event activations, and social content that shows how elite-level adjustments translate to everyday improvements in dinks, volleys, and third-shot returns.

The takeaway? Watch for athlete-tested paddles hitting local shops and for Facolos-led events that drop useful drills and demo opportunities. If you want gear that reflects pro input, try paddles in person and focus on how material and balance affect your control and power before buying. Our two cents? Treat this as a chance to test new equipment and learn from a touring pro without having to book a flight.