CALVIN Abueva is aware he’s now in the twilight of his PBA career that he says it was a blessing he still managed to have his own signature shoes before he retires from playing.
The 36-year-old Magnolia forward recently launched his signature shoes with PEAK simply called ‘The Beast,’ officially made available in the market just before the PBA ushered its 49th season.
Abueva was ecstatic during the product launch held at the Peak store in One Ayala Makati recently, saying he didn’t expect a shoe company would put its trust on him to carry its brand despite giving himself a few years of playing before calling it a career.
“Sobrang saya dahil at age 36, nakapag-pundar ka pa ng shoes mo bago ka mag-retire, bago ka matapos sa paglalaro mo sa career ng basketball. At least may lumabas akong shoes. Magagamit ko siya bago ako mag-retire,” said the native of Angeles City, Pampanga.
The San Sebastian College product looked back at how he tried fitting in shoes not of his own size when he played in the early years of his playing career.
“Ang iniisip ko dati paano ako makakabili ng sapatos, e. Ang problema ko dati wala kang makukuha na big size dito (Pilipinas). Pili lang siya. Kailangan mo pang pumunta sa ibang bansa, dun ka makakakuha. Pero dito, size 12 na yung mga max (sizes) nila.
It didn’t help any that Abueva wears size 13 sneakers.
“Yung size ko 13, so yung size 12 pinag-kakasya ko, kaya yung kuko ko puro patay kasi nakabaluktot yung mga daliri ko,” he disclosed.
“Pero yun naman yung nagsilbi sa akin kung paano ako kumayod, kung paano ako magtrabaho ng husto.”
Abueva patterned his signature shoes after the blue color of Magnolia and has available 14-15 sizes for his personal use.
‘The Beast’ has only limited edition of 1,000 pieces.
“Yes, kaya special ito para sa akin. Very memorable,” he said.
Abueva first wore the shoes during the PBA All-Star in Bacolod earlier this year.
“Nagamit ko siya nung All-Star, pero hindi pa siya lumalabas nun. May mga pina-adjust lang ako. Pero ngayon comfortable na siya sa loob,” he added.
Abueva is the latest inclusion into the growing Peak family that also counts on other PBA players such as Juami Tiongson, Jio Jalalon, Rey Nambatac, and Robert Bolick among its product endorsers
Tiongson and Nambatac joined Abueva during the product launch, which was also attended by the father and son tandem of Michael (president, Peak Philippines) and Jonathan Chenglay (general manager).
Asked what made Peak decide to give Abueva his signature shoes, the elder Chenglay said the Magnolia star epitomized how Filipino players play the game of basketball.
“Yung brusko maglaro pero effective. Yan naman ang gustong style ng laro ng mga Filipino,” said Michael.
A meet and greet event was also held during the launching supervised by Peak executive Batchie Magat and personnel Ryan Buena, Cielo Pangilinan, and Eugene Pasaol.
Incidentally, Peak Sports also served as the official training outfit of the Philippine Team to the recently concluded Paris Olympics.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
