Bonus for Olympic contest

Aside from FIBA Olympic basketballs, we’re giving away Gilas-themed Pilipinas basketball wrist watches to 10 of the 15 winners in our contest. The cut-off to submit entries is 5 this afternoon. Send in your entries by email to [email protected] or Instagram @therealdeanquinito or Twitter @TheDeanQuinito or Facebook @Joaquin Henson.

We’re giving away one genuine leather official FIBA Olympic game basketball, four composite leather indoor/outdoor basketballs and 10 rubber basketballs – all of which feature the Molten 12-panel design with the flat-pebble surface and the Brazilian colors of green, yellow and blue on both ends. The leather edition sells for P5,500 ($139.98 abroad) while the composite leather version for P1,600 ($44.98 abroad) and the rubber for P600. The balls are now available for sale at Toby’s, Chris Sports, Olympic Village and retailers nationwide.

Here’s how to win. Simply answer the following questions correctly. 1. Who was Gilas’ top scorer in the Philippines’ 72-69 win over China in Italy last Monday? Andray Blatche or Jeff Chan or Terrence Romeo. 2. Who is the captain of the French national team playing at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying

Tournament here on July 5-10? Tony Parker or Boris Diaw or Nando de Colo. 3. What is the nickname of the New Zealand national basketball team? Tall Blacks or All Blacks or Ball Blacks. 4. Who do you think will win the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament here and why?

We’ll set aside the entries with the correct answers then pick 15 based on the creativity and insightfulness of the justification of their choice as to which team will win the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament here. The 15 will receive the Molten FIBA Olympic basketballs and 10 will get a bonus of a wrist watch.

The watches are three for women with red, white and black straps and seven for men with yellow, white, red, blue and black straps. The ladies watches carry the Laban Pilipinas “puso” face while the men’s watches show “Pilipinas Basketball” and “Pilipinas” fronting the national shield and a basketball. The watch movement is three-hand Japanese quartz analog. The watches are made in China but designed by Ryan Mendoza who owns Customized Me Watch.

Mendoza, 32, took med-tech at FEU but wound up a graphic artist. In 2008, he was employed as a messenger by a company producing corporate giveaways. When not delivering out in the field, Mendoza looked over the shoulders of designers in the office and eventually, learned the craft. In 2012, he went on his own and offered his services in designing T-shirts for special occasions. Slowly, he built a reputation of professionalism and a growing clientele.

In 2013, Mendoza went to Dubai to work as a graphic artist. That same year, he branched out into the making of customized face watches and clocks. While abroad, he asked his brother-in-law Raymond Jimenez to mind the store. Mendoza designed the watches from long distance as his brother-in-law did the execution in his absence.

Last year, Mendoza returned home from Dubai and decided to concentrate on his emerging business. It’s basically a one-man operation.  For the recent elections, Mendoza made customized watches for President Duterte and Sen. Grace Poe. He has also designed watches for PBA imports Denzel Bowles, Dior Lowhorn and Vernon Macklin. Barangay Ginebra assistant coach Richard del Rosario was another client with a personalized watch saying “Chard Knows Free Throws.”

“I’m a big PBA fan and I love Ginebra,” said Mendoza. “Growing up in Mandaluyong, I got to know Mark Caguioa before he left for the US. I usually give a sample personalized watch to a player then if he likes it, he makes an order. Scottie Thompson is one of my clients. I approached the group that makes Gilas T-shirts and offered to customize a watch with the Gilas logo. We didn’t push through with it because they wanted a digital watch and it’s difficult to put a design on the face. I’m not able to use the Gilas logo on my watch because I don’t have the rights. I contacted the PBA in case they’re interested in a personalized watch but we still haven’t met on it.”

A self-starting entrepreneur, Mendoza said his Customized Me Watch is available at P500 each. He will personally meet a prospective client and make a unique design for the face of a watch or clock. Mendoza may be contacted through his website www.cmwatch.doodlekit.com <http://www.cmwatch.doodlekit.com/> or email [email protected] or cell No. +639151130912 or landline 398-2972. Mendoza said his small enterprise generates enough income to put food on the table for his wife Irene and 7-year-old son Xyrhon.   

Winners of the Molten FIBA Olympic basketballs and watches will be announced in this column on Sunday. Details on how, where and when to claim the prizes will also be disclosed. Don’t miss your chance to win a Molten FIBA Olympic basketball and your very own Gilas-themed Pilipinas basketball watch.