Filipino Celebrity Eric ‘Eruption’ Tai Debuts Signature Friday Pickleball Paddle
Some sponsorship stories take years to build. Eric “Eruption” got his in six months. The Friday Aura Pro “Eruption” paddle officially launched on 30 August 2026 at Tela Park Pickleball Center, marking the first-ever Philippine collaboration on a Friday paddle—and, quite remarkably, arriving barely half a year after Eruption first picked one up.
Friday Pickleball, which entered the Philippines fairly recently only, describes the paddle as the proven technology behind its Aura Pro line, now infused with what it calls the bold aura of Eruption himself—a limited edition built, in the brand’s own words, to make a statement both on and off the court. It’s crafted from carefully selected materials with the kind of attention to detail meant to deliver consistent performance and durability, but the real story here isn’t really about specs at all. It’s about how quickly one player’s journey turned into an international brand collaboration.
Eruption’s Journey: From a Wall to a Paddle Deal
Eruption didn’t hide how surreal the whole thing still feels to him. “I’m incredibly honoured for this once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said. “Six months ago, I was simply someone who picked up a paddle and fell in love with the game. Since then, I’ve spent countless hours on the court, learning, competing, losing, improving, laughing, and most importantly, meeting amazing people.”
What makes his message resonate beyond his own story is who he’s aiming it at. Rather than framing pickleball as a sport for the naturally gifted, he was pointedly inclusive about who actually belongs on court. “You don’t have to be an athlete, young, fast, strong, or experienced. You just have to keep showing up,” he said. “You can be a beginner. Big, small, chubby, voluptuous or maybe even a person trying to get their rhythm into something active. And before you know it, you’re part of the family and lovin’ the sport that hundreds and thousands love in our country right now.”
That sense of representing something bigger than himself runs right through his reflections on the deal. “That’s why this collaboration means so much to me. It’s not just about me. It’s about representing the Philippines and everyone who continues to grow this incredible pickleball community,” he said.
Thanking the People Who Believed First
Eruption was careful to credit the people who backed him before there was any paddle to speak of. To the Friday team, he offered thanks for “entrusting me with this part of the Aura Pro mantle and giving a Filipino the opportunity to be part of your international brand story.” To Toby’s Sports and Toby Claudio specifically, he pointed to the actual origin of the whole thing—a video of him practising against a wall just six weeks into playing the sport. “This started with you,” he said. “Thank you for believing in me after seeing a video of me practicing on a wall just six weeks into playing. Now, almost six months later, we’ve turned that crazy little dream into reality.”
He closed with gratitude for the people who’d shared the journey away from the cameras entirely—his wife Rona, his son Legend, Team Eruption and Pamy, friends, teammates, coaches, and everyone who’s ever shared a court with him. “From the Philippines, to the world,” he said. “Thank you for being part of the journey everyone.”
For a paddle built around one player’s rapid rise, that closing line rather sums up the whole pitch: a genuinely local story, now carrying a Philippine name onto an international shelf.
Pre-order the Friday Aura Pro “Eruption” paddle HERE.
