Having been a vital piece for Gilas Pilipinas that saw him take part in so many cagewars here and abroad, LA Tenorio sure knows the amount of pride putting on a jersey with “PILIPINAS” emblazoned on the chest brings.
The proud son of Batangas isn’t part of the national team anymore — his last involvement in the program goes all the way back from 2016. But he has felt that kind of pride once again when he put on the Nike LeBron Soldier XII ‘Agimat.’
“It’s a different feeling e. Feeling mo ‘pag suot mo ‘tong shoes na ‘to, it’s like you’re really representing the country,” said Tenorio, who became a hero in 2012 after leading Gilas to a gold medal finish in the William Jones Cup in Taiwan.
“I’m very honored again and blessed and fortunate to wear another Agimat,” he added, referring to the Nike LeBron 14 ‘Agimat’ — the very first Agimat shoe — that released in 2017 and debuted in the SEABA Championships in Manila.
Tenorio had the chance to try the Agimat Soldier XIIs out last Thursday, when he served as a guest in Nike Philippines’ exclusive media trials in Taguig City. First impressions last, as they say, and Tenorio sung praises to the shoes.
“It’s very comfortable for me,” he said. “As a point guard ang pinaka-importante sa’kin is really -pag mag-change of direction ako, ‘di ako magdadalawang-isip na gawin consistently. Kasi minsan magiisip ka e, kasi matigas.
“This particular shoe is comfortable sa’kin,” added the 33-year-old on the shoe that uses Nike Zoom. “Actually mas lighter ng konti ‘to. Maybe bacuse this is the Soldier, kasi last time it’s really the LeBron shoes. Lighter ‘to para sa’kin.”
But it’s not just comfortability that left Tenorio in awe of the Agimat Soldier XIIs. What stood out for him is the shoe’s lockdown fit despite it being laceless, which is attributed to the strap system Nike calls the seatbelt system.
“But again yung kapit niya sa paa kasi masikip ‘di ba, ‘di mo na kailangan isintas eh, strap lang. I think the idea of the shoes is really yung kapit niya sa shoes, kayo magaadjust,” said the 5-foot-9 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel star.
“At saka habang naglalaro ka, hindi luluwag, kasi ‘pag sintas siya, luluwag.”
With what he had seen and felt in the Agimat Soldier XIIs, the shoe has earned a stamp of approval from one of the best guards in the PBA and, of course, in the international arena, where he had collected three medals.
“Hundred percent recommendation to wear this shoe not only for us athletes but also for the normal basketball players,” he said. “Kita niyo, sa cement tayo naglaro pero makapit kahit alam natin na medyo moist dahil umulan.”
The Nike LeBron Soldier XII ‘Agimat’ will be released on June 15. Limited pairs will drop at Nike Park Fort, Glorietta, Mall of Asia and Trinoma. Retail price is at PHP 6,745.
