Fans can now purchase the official Gilas Pilipinas apparel in retailing giant SM.
After launching the official line of Gilas Pilipinas products last March, the vision of wearing one color for the Manila OQT heads into full throttle as Melmac Sports, the official Gilas licensee, and Snack Time, SM’s official carrier of the brand, officially opened pop-up stores in the top SM Supermalls around the Metro last week.
“This all started with just a passion which is basketball,” Melmac Sports chief Mel Macasaquit said during the brand’s SM Aura opening last weekend. “Parang sinasabi ko nga lagi na pag Pilipino ka at hindi ka mahilig sa basketball, may problema ka.”
Fans of the National Team can purchase the product in over 40 outlets in Robinsons Department Stores and, as well as, through online purchase by logging-on to Tackthis.co.
Official Gilas merchandise can now be purchased in SM Outlets (Joaqui Flores)
The partnership with the Sy-owned SM is the icing on the cake for the brand as the top SM Malls and all five Snack Time kiosks at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the host of the Manila OQT, will carry the apparel.
“Ang maganda dito, during the game itself, five na stores ang ilalagay namin sa loob ng MOA Arena. When you enter, you’ll be surrounded by the stores. Yung Robinsons naman kasama din namin lahat ng department stores nila,” Macasaquit added.
“Yung pop-up stores naman we gave them to SM. We believe that they are capable of making us the highest selling team-based apparel in Asia.”
Also present during the opening were National Team head coach Tab Baldwin and Gilas Pilipinas pool player Terrence Romeo.
For Baldwin, the important factor in all of this is that the profits gained in this endeavor will directly go straight to the local basketball grassroots program. “Terrence [Romeo] and I, we’re caretakers for the brand,” the mentor said. “He will be in Gilas uniform probably longer than I would wear the Gilas patch on my sleeve and the Philippine flag, but we both recognize that our work over how many years we’re here, it leaves a legacy for who, for somebody.”
“And the fact that we’re doing now, being part of tonight, helps to contribute to that next group and the next generation of players coming through. It makes us feel good about contributing to this effort, to get our fans wear our colors, wear our logo, wear our brand, and share in our effort, knowing that we’re also contributing to the future.”
Gilas pool member Terrence Romeo made time to accommodate the fans present during the SM Aura Gilas pop-up store opening (Joaqui Flores)
Romeo shared the same sentiments of his head coach and added that he will do everything in his power to represent both Gilas and the country well. “Para sa akin, iba yung Gilas compared sa GlobalPort,” Romeo shared. “Kung ano man yung maipapakita ko sa Gilas, if ever man na mapapasama ako sa lineup, pipilitin kong ipakita yung di ko pa napakita sa career ko.”
“Kung ano yung best kong kayang gawin, yun ang gagawin ko para sa Gilas.”
Macasaquit then closed in stressing the very essence of this endeavor. “It is not our intention to make a profit. The main intention is to expand our passion in basketball. If we earn thank you, if not thank you for the experience,” he closed.
“We are just thankful for this opportunity to help with the grassroots program of the sport that we all love.”
