Amulet from the King

The King has spoken and his loyal subjects in Philippine hoopdom are the beneficiaries of a treat that only The Chosen One can deliver in regal fashion. LeBron James’ latest Nike signature shoe 14 has come out with an exclusive Filipino edition called “Agimat” which is the NBA star’s tribute to Filipino ballers. It’s a phenomenal shoe, something that’s worthy of a special place in a collector’s trophy room. And while the shoe is distinctly Filipino in character, sneakerheads all over the world shouldn’t pass up the chance of gobbling up a pair because there is historic significance in the “Agimat.”

Nike Philippines country marketing manager Patrick Reyes said the other day the shoe was about two years in the making. When LeBron visited Manila on the Nike Rise tour in 2015, he went to The Tenement in West Bicutan and was reminded of where he grew up in Akron, Ohio. A concrete basketball court with LeBron’s image painted in a mural on the surface was in the atrium surrounded by The Tenement’s apartment buildings.

“Wherever LeBron goes, Nike is always on the lookout for inspiring things to use for his next signature shoe,” said Reyes. “During LeBron’s second visit to Manila, he was blown away by the passion or “puso” for the game that the ballers from The Tenement showed. He identified with the love and the commitment to do battle against all odds even in the midst of adversity. That warrior mentality is something LeBron wanted to express in ‘Agimat.’”

Reyes said Nike’s LeBron shoe designer Jason Petrie collaborated with Nike specialists from the Philippines and the US to create something uniquely Filipino for an edition of the 14th model. The Nike LeBron 14 in black and red colorways hit stores in the Philippines over a month ago but the blue version which LeBron recently used in Game 3 of the Cleveland-Toronto playoff series will be out only on May 20. The blue version with the Philippine touch was seeded to Gilas in time for the opening of the SEABA Championships today.

The “Agimat” theme borrows from the Filipino belief in spirit and divine power. “Filipino culture is rich in myth and magic,” said a Nike release. “Even until today, Filipinos believe in charms, amulets and talismans that offer good fortune, protection and sometimes, superhuman strength.” To make the shoe even more Filipino, it has symbols that add to the identity. For instance, in the outer back are gold emblems, one with the letters MNL to express LeBron’s shout-out to Manila ballers, another with a mountain to show LeBron’s relentless climb to peak performance and the Philippines’ mountainous terrain and still another, a head of fire to symbolize the volcanoes in the Philippines and LeBron’s intense passion. In the inner sole and the pull loop are the words “Para Sa Kadakilaan” (for greatness). At the heel of the shoe is a textured outer inspired by the traditional woven fabric of “banig.” 

The classic blue shoe box contains a pouch that holds a gold medallion with the words “Mula Mandirigma Sa Mandirigma” (from one warrior to another), “King James,” “The Beast” and “The Chosen 1.” On the back of the medallion are LeBron’s signature and the Nike swoosh. The medallion comes with a string necklace so it can be worn like an amulet. The shoe will be launched in the Philippines on May 20 with exclusive availability at Nike Park BGC, Nike Park Glorietta 4, Titan Two Parkade BGC and Titan22.com. The shoe will retail for P8,895.

As for the technology that went into making the shoe a work of art on the court, it looks like Nike thought of everything. There’s a midsole cushioning system that makes the 14th edition the sleekest and fastest LeBron signature shoe ever. Reyes said the shoe combines the best of Nike performance innovation and Filipino heritage. Its other features are a dynamic lockdown with wide midfoot straps to spread the force of impact and provide stability, four Nike Zoom air cushioning units on the sole to maximize the power of every step and an extremely light perforated upper for breathability, flexibility and support.

Reyes said every Filipino who slips into a pair will be like following in LeBron’s footsteps to achieve the impossible in striving for greatness. “LeBron hopes to inspire Filipino kids to find their inner strength, channel his invincibility and aspire for supremacy on the court,” he said.

Reyes said the timing of the shoe launch was perfect to coincide with the Philippines’ quest for the SEABA title and the lone ticket to represent Southeast Asia in the FIBA Asia Cup in August. “We gave out the shoes to our Gilas team last Wednesday during practice,” he said.