"HE JUST showed everyone my greatest sneaker custom of all time."
This is what theBROcustom told SPIN Life when we asked him about he felt about having his work flexed by the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Jordan Clarkson.
To recap: On Friday morning, the Utah Jazz star posted a photo of himself posing with a personalized pair of Nike Zoom Freak 2s.
"#PUSO," he wrote in the caption of his post.
If you zoom in on the shoes, you can see portraits of Clarkson in two different jerseys — one in his Utah Jazz kit, and the other in the blue and white drip of the Philippine national team.
TheBROcustom designed this pair for Clarkson
This sneaker art was done by Maui Lucero, a Canada-based Filipino artist whose works were first seen worn by PBA players like Beau Belga, Jericho Cruz, Mark Barroca, JR Quinahan, Calvin Abueva, Aris Dionisio Terrence Romeo, Poy Erram, Scottie Thompson, Bam Gamalinda, Kyles Lao, among others, Michele Gumabao, Paolo Orbeta, and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. He also designs for mostly local clients in the PH.
In the business for four years now, Lucero revealed that this was the grandest goal he always yearned to achieve as an artist.
"Nung nag-renew ako ng business permit, I told myself na my goal this 2021 is makagawa ako ng sneaker custom sa isang NBA player, then I can finally stop and focus on my work, and spend time with my family," he shared.
Lucero is an overseas Filipino worker currently residing in Alberta, Canada. Aside from his day job, he hustles on the side painting kicks.
One of his signatures is creating customized mismatched pairs for his clients — which you can see in JC's shoe.
"Mismatched custom pair [siya], like the usual custom I do for the PBA players. I'm happy with how the design came out," he said. "Been to the PBA, MPBL, PVL, Manny Pacquiao and now, the NBA, I can say anything is possible."
Lucero was able to get in touch with Clarkson with the help of Rain or Shine teammates Gabe Norwood, Belga, and Rey Nambatac, who has a direct connection with the JC family.
"I wanted to surprise JC, I asked help from Gabe and he helped be reach out to JC's dad Mr. Mike Clarkson. I'm thankful for them kasi they trusted me and allowed me to send over my design," he said. "Yung message ng shoes na yon is how he represents his roots as a Filipino and an NBA superstar."
Clarkson has always been outspoken and proud of his Filipino descent.
Being the huge basketball fan that he is, Lucero is happy to be representing Filipinos on the court, not as an athlete, but as a go-to artist of the athletes.
"I hope I make Filipinos all over the world proud as well," he said.
Among the hundreds of pairs he's done in his career, this was his favorite.
With such an achievement now in the bag, he said he can now focus on being a full-time dad to his five months old baby.
"I am blessed to be able to do this. Jordan Clarkson just showed everyone my greatest sneaker custom of all time," he said. "Dad life starts now."
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