Asistio honored to wear Anta

Rain or Shine guard Anton Asistio never expected to be chosen as the first Anta brand ambassador. He was a second-round pick in the PBA draft this year and started only two of nine games in his rookie conference, averaging 5.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 18.4 minutes. But on the court, Asistio brought a verve that wasn’t just exciting but also contagious. He was a sparkplug and catalyst. At 26, Asistio is a prime example of the PBA’s new breed of stars. So it wasn’t surprising that Anta country general manager J. P. Paglinawan picked Asistio to be the brand’s first Filipino endorser.

“Klay Thompson wears Anta and to be honest, I think Anton shoots somewhat like him, of course not by KT standards,” said Paglinawan. “We chose Anton because of his determination to succeed as an underdog. We know he wasn’t a high draft pick but we see in him the values of a pro athlete who can be an inspiration to everyone.” At Ateneo, Asistio worked his way from Team B to Team A and wound up playing on two UAAP senior title squads. Before joining the PBA, he honed his skills playing 5x5 in the MPBL and PBA D-League and 3x3 for Chooks To Go. His road to the top was obstructed but he managed to hurdle the roadblocks.

Paglinawan said despite the pandemic, Anta opened five new stores in Metro Manila and now has seven in total. “Footwear sales slowed down but apparel went up,” he said. “Basketball is our No. 1 seller in footwear, mainly the KT line. Then, our training shoes come next with our gym, walking and running lines. Before the year ends, we’re launching KT7, his seventh signature shoe and Anton will be wearing a pair during the Governors Cup. Our technology is comparable with the traditional big brands, we’re comfortable, durable and reasonably priced as our shoes go from P3,500 to P5,000. Now that NCR is on Alert Level 2, we’re hoping to be actively involved in events like marathons and triathlons. We’re excited about Anta’s future in the Philippines.” Anta was established in China in 1991 and has over 11,000 stores throughout the Mainland. It’s the third largest sports group in the world.

Asistio said he wore three Anta models in his rookie conference, the KT6, a Gordon Hayward shoe and Shock The Game. “As a player, I look for comfort, traction and durability in a shoe,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier with Anta. Last conference, I wore the KT6 which comes in blue, white and red so perfect ROS colors, the Hayward is beige with black lines. I can’t wait to wear the KT7 especially since he’s coming back to play possibly before the year ends.”

Asistio said his rookie conference was a learning experience. “Coach Chris (Gavina) has a developmental approach, he gives you confidence, makes you work harder. The toughest I’ve had to face in the PBA were Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca, both pesky, quick and solid defenders. In the quarterfinals, I thought we lacked composure which Magnolia had. I don’t think we lacked pieces but we’ll bounce back stronger. We’ve started light scrimmages at Reyes Gym last Saturday. For myself, I want to focus on being a better floor general and facilitator. I used to be a shooting guard but now, I’m concentrated on playing the point. When coach wants us to play small ball, I enjoy playing with Rey (Nambatac) in the backcourt. Actually, my favorite receiver is Mark Borboran. I like playing with Adrian Wong and Vince Tolentino because we all played together at Ateneo but I also enjoy playing with Andrei Caracut, Norbert Torres and Santi Santillan who are from La Salle.”

Asistio said Gabe Norwood is a born leader who keeps the team together. “When I’m around him, I’m like a sponge,” he said. “James Yap is taking a leave but I’m hoping he comes back. He’s very skilled and talented. Coach likes to pick his brains. He’s one of the best PBA players of all time. I’ve followed his career since the UAAP and when I first saw him at practice, I was star-struck. Beau Belga is one of the smartest players in the game. He looks intimidating but off the court, he jokes around and is a really nice guy. Javee Mocon is like Thirdy Ravena, athletic, big, strong, a scorer. He’s a future superstar. Coach is developing a culture that is about professionalism, being strong physically and intellectually and playing to win.”