Ant is going global. Parlaying their premier pitchman into becoming a world traveler was a true highlight of last offseason for adidas Hoops, spawning moments like Mr. Edwards at the Great Wall of China. Yet even if we’re still in the dark with regard to his summer itinerary, we already know he’ll have a foothold on the world stage.
adidas Philippines has just officially revealed the adidas Anthony Edwards 2 “Magpakitang Gilas,” crafted in partnership with the country’s top-level basketball league. In nodding to the archipelago, Ant’s silhouette spares no detail. Red and blue flag coloring is eminently visible, but a sky-blue-to-white treatment on the collar adds to that prideful arrangement.
Further, the usual hallmarks of the adidas Anthony Edwards 2 shift for this nation-specific purpose. The SPH logo is adapted on the tongue, while the usual fabric mesh siding shifts into gridded suede. Finally, the name pulls from a Tagalog phrase often associated with the national team that roughly boils down to “show off” or “prove your worth,” befitting the swagger of both this shoe’s namesake and its collaborator.
Forever the dueling forces atop sport style, it’s hard not to think of this move in the wake of Nike’s efforts to court the country with the Titan 22 collab series, beginning with Sabrina Ionescu and continuing through native son Dylan Harper. From a less rivalrous perspective, it’s another moment where the rising profile of the country’s sporting tradition is on display; Jordan Clarkson recently brought home the only NBA championship for a Filipino-American.
The adidas Anthony Edwards 2 “Magpakitang Gilas” releases on June 26th via adidas Philippines channels, both online and via partnering retailers. It currently appears unlikely that this pair will be distributed via global channels. However, as we await firm confirmation, feel free to browse official shots below.
Written by
Matt Varga, Junior Editor