World No. 2 Gabe Tardio Leaves PIKKL, Signs Multi-Year Deal with Facolos

Gabriel “Gabe” Tardio left PIKKL and signed a multi-year paddle sponsorship with Vietnamese brand Facolos, a move that sources report runs through 2027 and will see the World No. 2 compete exclusively with Facolos’ Pro Series flagship, the EliteX. The deal replaces Tardio’s previous use of PIKKL’s Vantage Pro and positions the 20-year-old player on a new equipment platform as he prepares for an aggressive 2026 schedule.

According to reporting that first detailed the arrangement, Facolos will collaborate with Tardio on a co-branded collection that includes paddles, accessories and pickleball apparel while the company steps into the U.S. market in 2026. Facolos has also been named as a paddle sponsor for the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball, a sponsorship push that LinkedIn posts and social accounts describe as the brand stepping onto the sport’s biggest stages.

Tardio framed his decision around performance and product innovation. “I’m truly honored to partner with Facolos for the next chapter of my career. 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.”

Facolos’ vice general director Võ Trần Quỳnh Trang positioned the signing as strategic for the company’s long-term ambitions. “Facolos is committed to a long-term development strategy in which partnering with world-class athletes plays a pivotal role. 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.”

Play! Pickle and related reporting add detail on Tardio’s competitive profile: the Bolivian-born 20-year-old is listed as No. 1 on the PPA Tour men’s doubles rankings and No. 6 in mixed doubles, and he plans to compete in roughly 25 tournaments in 2026 with stated interest in PPA Tour Asia events. The EliteX is described by Facolos as “engineered for exceptional grip, spin and precise control.”

Industry observers are already reading the deal as part of a wider reshaping of the paddle market. Timesnownews and aggregated coverage cite a wave of Asian brands - including Luzz, Aireo, Arronax, Mehau, Li-Ning, RamSports, Warping Point, Kamito and Zocker - signing pros and seeking certification and market access, with one story noting Chinese company Luzz signed Chris Haworth. Timesnownews frames the movement as a challenge to American paddle makers and suggests Facolos may be the first Asian brand to land a major U.S. pro but will likely not be the last.

Key follow-ups for regional stakeholders include whether Facolos holds UPA-A certification, confirmation from PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball on the scope of tour sponsorships, and how retail and federation policies in Asia and the U.S. will adapt as Facolos launches the EliteX into U.S. shops and pro play. Fans and regional retailers now face a concrete choice as Tardio heads to Facolos and prepares for a 25-event year under a new paddle.