SUMMARY
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For most of the year, sports media covering the Philippines’ basketball leagues – notably the PBA, UAAP, and NCAA – watch from the sidelines as pro and collegiate athletes go at it on the hardwood. But once our stories are filed and photos have been emailed, we like to lace up our own sneakers and put up some shots as well.
Last Thursday, July 14, sports writers, photographers, personalities and more were invited by Titan to take part in the Trial Runs for the new Nike Hyperdunk 2016 at Treston College. More than 30 people were present, including guests like former UAAP stars Von Pessumal (Ateneo) and Ray Parks (NU), plus actors Gerald Anderson and Rayver Cruz.
As expected, Pessumal drilled a lot of 3-pointers and Parks displayed his superb athleticism – something almost all of us, who were their teammates and opponents for the night – have been fortunate to see in person over the past few years.
Fortunately, the mediamen were able to hold their own for the evening and avoided being on the receiving end of an ankle-breaker or poster – although I’m not sure we’d be as lucky next time.
Each pick-up was a race to 30 – twos and 3s, change at 15 – and had many of the common aspects of a Pinoy game: the 2-3 zone defense, a whole lot of running on fastbreaks, and even more attempts from 3-point range (shoutout to Migs Rocha for channeling his inner Klay Thompson and costing us the first game of the night.)
Overall, it was a fun experience that allowed members of the media to play the game we love with others who share the same passion, plus get to know the guys we usually interview or take photographs of, literally, on the court.
The new Hyperdunk
Designed by Leo Chang – who was also responsible for the look of the new Kevin Durant signature kicks – the Hyperdunk 2016 has a high-cut Flyknit upper and is made for better traction. Like the new Kobes and KDs, the shoe is heavy on the Flyknit material, which follows the trend of Nike’s latest releases.
From a performance perspective, the Hyperdunk feels light on your feet and allows the player to easily take and change strides, especially when the pace of the game is picked up. The shoe also complements a player’s explosiveness – whether jumping for an offensive rebound or beginning to sprint – better than past Nike releases.
The tighter midsole may make it not the number one choice for flat-footed players, but the support on the ankles is evident. As someone who likes to try out new basketball signature shoes for pick-up games, I put the Hyperdunk as my second favorite to come out over the past year, just behind the Kobe 11s.
For those interested to cop a pair, Titan has started to sell 3 colorways – USA Away, USA Home, and Oreo. It’s a worthy investment for someone who plays basketball quite frequently, regardless of the type of floor you’re playing on. – Rappler.com
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