Win FIBA World Cup official ball and more!

Five Molten limited edition basketball models, each relating to the Philippines’ campaign at the FIBA World Cup in Spain on Aug. 30-Sept. 14, will be given away to the senders of the best entries in a social media contest where the focus is to express support for Gilas through an image on Instagram.

It’s easy to join. Anyone can send an image to the Instagram account @therealdeanquinito and the five best entries will be awarded a Molten basketball each. An entry may take the form of a photograph or a graphic rendition or a cartoon or a logo or a display of words or a portrayal of an expression of support. Judging will be based on creativity, clarity of message, attractiveness and originality. An entry may use the FIBA World Cup logo as a take-off point. An entry may even be a selfie or a picture of the sender showing support for Gilas, perhaps, wearing a “Laban-Puso” T-shirt or posing with a Gilas player.

Deadline to send entries is 5 p.m., Friday, June 13. Winners will be announced in this column on Sunday, June 15, and will be contacted through their Instagram accounts.

The best Instagram entry will be awarded the top-grain leather FIBA World Cup official game basketball to be used in Spain. The second placer will be given the synthetic leather version of the FIBA World Cup basketball. The third placer receives the synthetic leather version of the exclusively-designed Gilas basketball while the fourth placer takes home the rubber version of the FIBA World Cup basketball. The fifth placer gets the rubber version of the Gilas basketball.

All the five models are imported and shipped in from Thailand. Sonia Trading managing director Anil Buxani is making available the basketballs for the contest as his own expression of support for Gilas. Buxani will also announce a donation to the SBP soon in line with Gilas’ participation in Spain.  Sonia Trading is the exclusive Philippine distributor of Molten.

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The FIBA World Cup basketballs, in all versions (top-grain leather, synthetic leather and rubber), are now on the shelves of Toby’s, Chris Sports and selected stores in malls nationwide. The Gilas basketballs are still not out in the market. Buxani said they will roll out of the warehouse within the week.

“We’re very excited to showcase the brand-new Molten basketballs,” said Buxani. “It’s the first time that Molten has designed a specific, custom-made basketball for the World Cup. We thought of a special design for Gilas to commemorate our return to the FIBA World Cup after 36 years.”

The FIBA World Cup basketball is inspired by the “energy and passion of Spanish culture” and features a “flamenco” motif “juxtaposing the sport of basketball with the complexity and vibrant spirit of dance.” The unique design is quite eye-catching and symbolizes the FIBA World Cup slogan “In Your Hands.” Molten has stylized the FIBA World Cup logo with a bright rendition of four multi-colored hands in four panels on both sides of the ball. The FIBA World Cup logo is emblazoned over the Molten trademark. Overall, the attractive design enhances visibility for the players, game officials and spectators.

Buxani said Molten’s research and development team worked on features that make the basketball the best in the business in terms of handling, gripping, shooting, catching, dunking and passing. The flat-pebble surface provides grip and control while the full-flat seams give it a consistent backspin for “stable, accurate shooting and passing no matter where you hold the ball.”  The 12-panel, two-tone design was made by the Italian Giugiano team.

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The Gilas basketball also features the innovative 12-panel design. What makes it extra special is it comes in three colors – red, white and blue – with the Gilas “eagle” and FIBA World Cup logos.  Buxani said only a limited quantity was manufactured so that every Gilas basketball is an outright collector’s item.

The FIBA World Cup top-grain leather official game basketball retails for P4,800 while the synthetic leather version goes of P1,500. The rubber version is selling for P550. The Gilas synthetic leather version will retail for P1,500 and the rubber version, P550. In all, Sonia Trading is putting out P8,900 worth of basketballs for The Philippine Star’s exclusive contest.

Buxani hinted that Molten is in the process of launching a new variant for a basketball model now undergoing experimentation and testing with high-caliber players around the world. “Let’s call it the X-files,” he said. “We’re excited about the future with Molten. The basketball boom is evident all over the world and Molten is determined to stay on top of the game with advanced technology.”

Entries to win the five Molten basketballs may be sent in to the Instagram account @therealdeanquinito now. You may also send tweet alerts to the Twitter account @thedeanquinito. Those without Instagram or Twitter accounts may send their entries on paper directly to The Philippine STAR offices in Port Area, Metro Manila, care of the Sports Section. Deadline for all entries is 5 p.m., Friday, June 13.