The Professor set to launch the ANTA Shock Wave 7

The Professor is coming.

A streetball legend is set to return to the Philippines.

Grayson Boucher, or more recognized as "The Professor," will be coming to the country on behalf of his new partnership with shoe brand ANTA.

As part of this visit, he will check out a variety of locales in the next few days, as he will help launch the latest iteration of the Shockwave series, the Shockwave 7. 

The country is the third stop on his Asian tour in helping drum up attention for these kicks, following his earlier exploits in China and Indonesia.

Boucher's ascent was made possible through his on-court exploits coupled with his skills in integrating cinematic storytelling and entertainment in this century.

With ANTA in tow, The Professor is looking to highlight streetball to a new generation. To quote the third-largest sportswear company in the world, "The Professor's gritty and stylish approach to the game perfectly aligns with ANTA’s commitment to providing quality sportswear that is accessible to everyone."

During his three-day visit, he is expected to check out ANTA's major outlets, including SM Megamall on the 29th, SM North EDSA on the 30th, and SM Bacoor and One Ayala on the 31st. Fans would be able to get access to athlete encounters if they are wearing either the ANTA Shockwave 7 or Scalped 2.

Boucher will also check out the ANTA 2v2 Classic Finals taking place at the Ayala Glorietta Activity Center on Saturday afternoon. 

The Professor joins ANTA's roster of athletes, which includes NBA stars Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Donte DiVincenzo. He is the first streetball athlete to be signed by the brand. The partnership highlights ANTA’s efforts to help the growth of the sport globally.

Kyrie Irving launches latest Anta innovations in Thailand

Kyrie Irving

Recently, Kyrie Irving traveled to the region for his 2024 China and Southeast Asia Tour, highlighted by "The Art of Movement" fashion show in Bangkok.

Said event marked the debut of the Anta Hélà lifestyle collection, a fusion of art, movement, basketball, and fashion, creating what is a unique athletic look that the Dallas Mavericks guard and concurrent Chief Creative Officer and Creative Director for Anta.

For "The Art of Movement," it featured outfits that were co-designed by Kyrie's sister Asia, The collection, which blended celebration with a fresh and magical style, mostly features a rich purple palette that pays homage not only to the "Artist on Court" colorway but also the royal elegance that symbolizes family, basketball, and design.

The event was split into three segments: the first one highlighted versatile, basketball-inspired designs that could be worn both on and off the court, celebrating the artistic evolution of Kyrie's iconic totem and the strength of Anta's spirit. The second one reflected Kyrie's design philosophy of family, celebrating the enduring legacy, unity, and connection passed through generations. with the last one showcasing bold, dynamic lines inspired by Kyrie's signature logo and values, symbolizing focus, agility, strength, and speed.

It also served as the launch for the Hélà TRIBE, Hélà STYLE, and the new Hélà STYLE SLOUX sneakers, as well as a the latest release of the KAI footwear line, the KAI 1 Speed, which is co-designed by Kyrie with his father, Drederick.

With Anta's Irving Hélà lifestyle collection, the line seeks to offer a modern, versatile aesthetic that echoes Kyrie's distinctive presence both on and off the court. It is inspired by how Irving's playing style illustrates a combination of power, agility, and precision.

As for the KAI 1 Speed, it is a reflection of the shared passion and dedication both father and son have to basketball, and is a symbol of the unwavering support Kyrie has received from his family.

In addition to the "The Art of Movement," Irving also went out to visit key landmarks across Thailand, including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, to soak in the art and culture. He also went to the Central World shopping mall to meet his fans. The latter saw Thai artist Daboyway hold a performance, and was presented a customized pair of kicks from Ohm Cocktail.

Through their continued partnership with the KAI and Hélà product lines, Kyrie and Anta will continue to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation, as it seeks to redefine the future of basketball with a shared vision of growth, inspiration, and excellence

KAI 1 set for Sunday Philippines launch

KAI 1 this Sunday

To mark the historic launch Kyrie Irving's first signature line of basketball footwear with ANTA, the brand is set to have a special launch in the Philippines this Sunday.

Called the KAI Space - Manila, it will occupy the area beside the ANTA branch of SM Megamall, which is located at the Megamall Atrium. Fans checking out the activation will see an immersive KAI 1 LED tunnel installation, games, a pop-up exhibit of Kyrie-inspired art from Marclen Ricafort-Chulani, exclusive product customization, and live DJ sets from Merms Dabu and Lucio Pua.

The SM Megamall branch is the only location in the country where the KAI 1 will be sold, and certain guidelines have been established.

Only sizes 8-13 are available for purchase at PhP 7995, with a one pair-per-customer purchase policy. Queueing starts at 10am, with purchases to start one hour later.

The much-anticipated KAI 1 looks to showcase the brand's commitment to uplifting talent and narratives within the sneaker world, highlighting its investment towards diversity and progressive representation. Curated by Jared Subawon, it emphasizes the power of inclusive storytelling through design, in this case being the "Enlightened Warrior" ethos.

The silhouette's aerodynamic contours echo Kyrie’s slick, gravity-defying transitions and crossovers. ANTA designers tapped into the capabilities of virtual reality technology, redefining the limits of imagination and functionality. In this manner, it allowed for a more intuitive design process, giving life to the sneaker through a virtual, three-dimensional space, enabling the designers to explore and refine every curve and contour with unparalleled precision and creativity.

At the same time, the hieroglyphic-esque code on the upper brings a narrative punch, essentially KAI’s code, grounding the sneaker in ancestral strength.

Senior Graphic Designer Astin Davis crafted the symbols to represent inspiration and encouragement, using ancient hieroglyphics and ciphers as a base. The graphics on the shoe tie harken to Kyrie's Native American roots, giving him the capabilities of supernatural strength, agility, focus, and speed.

In addition,  ANTA is spelled out in KAI’s code on the laces. “The Journey is the reward” is engraved into the midsole tooling. Kai’s code spells out Kyrie Irving across the strap on the heel pull tab.

Meanwhile, the presence of a forefoot lockdown strap provides for protection.

The rubber threading is derived from Kyrie's tribal roots, complementing his unorthodox maneuvers. The carbon fiber midfoot plate provides substantial torsional rigidity, ensuring seamless transitions from heel to toe. The rubber compound on the shoe excels in providing optimal traction for effective banking and smooth transitions. Additionally, the TPU lateral sidewall enhances stability and offers protection, facilitating confident movement on and off the court.

This sneaker is kitted with a TPU-integrated ANTA logo that transitions seamlessly into the design, reflecting Kyrie’s fluid playstyle and adding an element of finesse to the wearer’s game. The midsole packs a lightweight punch, providing responsive cushioning that lets hoopers cut, sprint, and jump without feeling weighed down, giving them the liberty to express their full potential on the court.

As for the color scheme, Kyrie and ANTA Color Design Director Shaneika Warden drew inspiration from the beliefs of Native peoples, integrating the symbolism of the four directions with the psychological and physical impacts that colors exert on the body and mind

Each color corresponds to a distinct discipline: Strength, Agility, Focus, and Speed.

Strength is embodied in a combination of silver armor with explosive reds and oranges, symbolizing endurance, resilience, and divine guidance to correct misguided paths.

Agility is represented by analogous layers of digital purples, reds, and blue, with an accent of green, making a Pan-African statement emphasizing nobility, magic, and mystery.

Focus is encapsulated in a rich teal, grounding the body and mind while sparked by hot orange, symbolizing imagination and visualization.

Speed is conveyed through yellow, the quickest color for the human eye to perceive. This choice focuses on light, enlightenment, and mental stimulation, elevating energy levels for all creation.

Warden shares, "The ANTA KAI 1 color is rooted in cultural symbolism, color psychology, and fashion trends. It is meant to celebrate the greatest gifts one can possess within the physical and metaphysical form, for not just one being, but all beings."

In releasing this shoe, Irving says, "As Chief Creative Officer and a player, I've woven the essence of my heritage and my heart for basketball into the design of ANTA KAI 1. This is more than a shoe; it embodies our ancestors' strength and the future we're building. Every detail, from the hieroglyphics to the aerodynamic shape, tells the story of where we've been and where we're going. Join me in stepping into this new chapter."

ANTA named as PBA Official Footwear

ANTA and the Philippine Basketball Association

ANTA continues to make waves in the local basketball scene, as the global sportswear giant is now the official footwear partner of the Philippine Basketball Association.

League commissioner Willie Marcial says, "We are thrilled to welcome ANTA as our official footwear partner. ANTA's commitment to innovation and quality aligns perfectly with our vision to elevate Philippine basketball. This partnership promises exciting developments for PBA players and fans, and we are confident it will contribute significantly to the continued growth of the sport."

ANTA Philippines General Manager JP Paglinawan adds, "Teaming up with the PBA gives us the opportunity to support these athletes perform at their best at the highest level of basketball locally. Partnering with the PBA comes at a perfect time when ANTA is growing at a very rapid pace across the country. Together, we look forward to further developing the future of both brands and more importantly, Philippine basketball."

Aside from the league, ANTA formed partnerships with three PBA ballclubs to act as its team outfitter: the TNT Tropang Giga, the Magnolia Hotshots, and the Rain or Shine Elastopainters. The deal with the Elastopainters in particular includes a future rollout of community programs that reflects ANTA's dedication in supporting local basketball and fostering its future.

ANTA also unveiled its advertisement that illustrates its partnership with the PBA, which includes PBA greats Alvin Patrimonio and Benjie Paras and its current standouts. 

In addition, they have extended their specific partnership with San Beda, one in place thanks to their ANTA Varsity Project, to include the Red Lions' participation in the upcoming PBA D-League under Marinerong Pilipino.