MANILA (Philippines) - The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' (SBP) announcement last May 9 signaled a new era for the entire Gilas program as the proud National Federation forged a partnership with a new outfitter.
That very development drew mixed reactions from fans and netizens alike, given the fact that the Philippine national basketball teams had been associated with Nike for nearly two decades.
Some even felt sentimental, having gotten so used to seeing the Swoosh on PH kits over that long of a period - and achieving the highest of highs while wearing gear manufactured by the sporting giant.
And so, there's no better time to take a trip down memory lane and take a look at some of arguably the coolest looking uniforms that the Southeast Asian powerhouse has worn since coming back to the global stage.
These jerseys were chosen based not just on aesthetics but their significance to Team Pilipinas as well, meaning the success that the Filipino dribblers attained while rocking those mostly tri-colored apparel.
Honorable mention: FIBA Asia Cup 2007
This marked the Philippines' first FIBA competition in years and they announced their arrival in a big way - and we mean big, literally, with how 'PILIPINAS' - carried with a classic font - was emblazoned on the chest.
While this may be minute for some, it actually was a daring move by Nike. Previous national teams went with the usual 'PHILIPPINES' on their jerseys up front, perhaps to go at par with international standards.
But to go with an endonym wasn't done before, which, it turns out, was a conscious effort of the outfitter not just for the Philippine team but some of the federations which are sponsored by the brand.
The jerseys came in sets of white and blue, with yellow trim outlining the shoulder and side panels. A mini Swoosh was embroidered below the neckline, with the numbers in red - thus completing the red, white, and blue scheme.
V. FIBA Asia Cup 2009
The FIBA Asia Cup 2009 in Tianjin, China was the Philippines' second consecutive stint in the continental showpiece since returning to international competitions, and they were made sure to look nice in action.
Also made up of PBA stars like the '07 unit, the squad was clad in the famed Nike System of Dress uniforms, which took the 2008 Beijing Olympics by storm as Team USA and the other federations the brand supported wore it.
Nike crafted three-tone jerseys for the RP Team, with their dark set arguably the prettiest of 'em all as it boasted a strong blue base, with red and white trims on both sides. Add to that the yellow Swoosh on the chest.
But what some fans remember from that period was the striking red outfit they wore - with blue and white trims on the side instead - as it was a color scheme never seen worn by a PH team since the 2002 Asian Games.
As for their tournament campaign, Coach Yeng Guiao & Co. reached the Quarter-Finals and finished 7th, an improvement from the previous batch that wound up at 9th in the 2007 Asia Cup in Tokushima, Japan.
Oh, did we mention that they also came with special Philippine-inspired Nike Hyperdunks?
IV. FIBA Asia Cup 2011
While the past two batches were made up of players from Asia's pioneering pro league, the first iteration of the Gilas program that we know today waved the flag for the 2011 FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China.
With the renowned Rajko Toroman manning the sidelines, that group consisted mostly of the country's best amateurs at the time, and their jerseys were indeed a notch higher from what their predecessors wore.
Unlike the System of Dress uniforms that bore the same template for most Nike-backed teams, the Gilas 1.0 jersey was a bit more personalized for the Philippines, with V-shaped red and gold accents on the side panels.
Still, they kept the "PILIPINAS" script on the chest from the 2009 edition, placed on top of the Philippines' coat of arms - yes, a symbol that's typically embroidered as a small patch was emblazoned fully on the front.
Gilas went as far as the Semi-Finals before finishing 4th wearing those. While they may have fallen just short of reaching the podium, that campaign laid the foundation to the successes the program would attain.
III. FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014
Among those was the country's return to the FIBA Basketball World Cup after 35 long years when they qualified for the 2014 edition in Spain through the FIBA Asia Championship the year prior.
In basketball's biggest stage, Nike made sure to upgrade the apparel for all its teams. That included Gilas, whom they gifted with special Hyper Elite uniforms that have become a classic.
Made from Nike Sphere fabric with articulated armholes for better movement, the jerseys featured “PILIPINAS" emblazoned in thick, vibrant letters on the front and had the Nike Aerographics at the back.
The Aerographics were also present from 2009-2013 but these World Cup unis had the eight-ray sun that could be found on the Philippine flag - indeed a solid tribute for a nation whose love for the game knows no bounds.
Even the side panels were inspired by the sun rays. The white-based light jerseys featured blue, while the blue ones featured a beautiful shade of red that perfectly complemented the entire look.
Gilas went on to give the Philippines their first World Cup win since 1974 in those kits, which they also used to bring home another silver medal in the 2015 FIBA Asia Cup in Changsha, China.
II. FIBA Asia Cup 2013
But of course, we cannot talk about that World Cup appearance without remembering the very run that brought Gilas there and defined what the program stood for: achieving a silver medal in the FIBA Asia Cup 2013.
Sure, the PBA-backed team of Coach Chot Reyes settled for a runner-up finish behind the mighty Iran, but that silver did glitter like gold as it meant the Philippines' comeback to the global scene after over three decades.
They were assured of a podium finish after an emotional 86-79 victory over a long-time tormentor in South Korea in the Semi-Finals, which was witnessed by a mammoth crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
That game saw Gilas wore crisp white jerseys, with the thick "PILIPINAS" printed on the chest in blue, coupled with blue side panels and a trim at the back neck in a two-tone scheme reminiscent of older RP Team gear.
They also had that solid blue-and-red set for their dark jerseys but it really is those light uniforms which are ingrained into the minds of Filipino fans even to this day, given the history they wrote with it.
I. FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023
But the jerseys Gilas wore during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Manila could go down as their best uniform of all time as far as aesthetics are concerned. It may be a reach, but hear us out first.
When Nike rolled out a new set of uniforms for the new World Cup cycle, most countries received sets which truly screamed national pride as the brand incorporated their flags as the main design on the side panels.
The likes of Greece and Puerto Rico had it (theirs was sick, too) and eventually the Philippines got theirs, which they debuted during the first-ever FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Graz, Austria.
It was well-received by fans upon first look, with many drawn particularly to the dark sets. Featuring a blue base, the Philippine flag was on both sides, with "PILIPINAS" and other texts - plus the Swoosh - in vibrant yellow.
But even the light one was beautiful in its own way. Made with an immaculate white base, the Philippine flags on the sides carried the entire look, with the texts and the Nike logo pressed in royal blue.
For two years, those were Gilas' go-to kits, and they wore it through the highs and lows - from nearly stunning Serbia in the FIBA OQT, to a gallant 2022 Asia Cup stand, and to beating China in the 2023 Worlds at home.
They wore the same sets toward a historic Asian games gold later in 2023 that marked the Philippines' first Asiad men's basketball title in 61 years, and let go of those jerseys for a new look in the 2024 OQT in Latvia.
What do you think?
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