Nike releases special Kobe 9s for the PhilippinesIn the past few years, the Philippines has received a lot of love from the international community because of our love for basketball. When other people see Filipinos playing ball wearing their tsinelas, or wading through floodwater to put some shots up, or even putting up a humble basket in storm-ravaged Tacloban, they can’t help but be mesmerized with the country’s unparalleled love for basketball.
In exchange, the Philippines received blessings from the basketball gods with the chance to host the 2013 FIBA Asia Tournament and even an NBA pre-season game.
Nike is the latest international brand to tip its hat to the Filipino basketball culture by releasing a special pair of kicks designed for the Filipino ballers.
The Kobe 9 EM ‘Philippines,’ Kobe Bryant’s ninth signature shoe with Nike was released on April 29 at Titan Two Parkade. Sneaker fans and even members of the Gilas Pilipinas squad attended the event.
“Pinoys love the game so much, they’ll even play in tsinelas,” read a note attributed to Erick Goto, the Filipino-American designer of the shoe.
Kobe 9 EM ‘Philippines’ features a familiar banig pattern on its upper part but its most lovable feature is the tsinelas print on the sole of the shoe.
It also features nine chrome lines at the back. The design of the lines are based from the rays of the sun in the Philippine flag. There are nine rays because it's Kobe's ninth signature shoe. Chrome was selected to pay homage to the intrinsically Pinoy jeepneys. The Kobe 9 EM 'Philippines' retails for 8,495 pesos.
https://ph.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/the-underdog/nike-releases-special-kobe-9-for-the-philippines-055750948-nba.html
