PUMA Signs Promising UAAP Basketball Athletes to Form First-Ever PUMA PH Hoops Squad

Global sports brand PUMA today announces the latest additions to its growing roster of Pinoy talents to represent the brand in the market.

Delivering on its promise to solidify its presence in the Philippine basketball scene, PUMA has signed rising University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball athletes to officially mark the arrival and presence of PUMA Hoops in the country.

Forming the brand’s first-ever PUMA PH Hoops Squad are UP’s Malick Diouf and Chicco Briones, NU’s Patrick Yu and Jolo Manansala, FEU’s Xyrus Torres and Jorick Bautista, and UE’s Gjerard Wilson and Jack Cruz-Dumont. This exclusive group of student-athletes, who exemplify PUMA’s ForeverFaster mantra, will represent PUMA in  a number of campaigns starting this year.

“The PUMA PH Hoops Squad consists of young athletes who are arguably deemed the future of Philippine basketball,” remarked Paolo Misa, PUMA Philippines Country Manager. “Recognizing the exceptional skills of the new breed of Pinoy hoopers in shaping the future of Philippine basketball, PUMA intends to play an active role in carving their path and etching their names in the country's sports history by providing them a support system to help them grow and develop as athletes,” he added.

PUMA PH Hoops Squad: The Future of Philippine Basketball

PUMA Hoops houses the brand’s official basketball collection or product line represented by a global squad of elite basketball athletes such as LaMelo Ball, Scoot Hendersoon, and Pinoy hooper Kai Sotto. The Philippine iteration of the brand’s global squad boasts eight of the most promising UAAP basketball athletes who are deemed the future of Philippine basketball.

Donning the wide array of PUMA Hoops apparel released this year, PUMA’s All-Star Basketball Squad of 2023 was featured in their first-ever brand campaign. The student-athletes showed off and used their LaMelo Ball signature shoes, PUMA MB.02 and MB.03 La France, and the All-Pro NITRO – all of which are built with the best technologies for an unparalleled fit and comfortable cushioning designed to hit the court hard. The first visuals of the squad also feature PUMA on-and-off-the-court looks designed for comfort and flexibility, enhancing both their performance and style.

Leading the first-ever Pinoy PUMA PH Hoops Squad are 6-foot-11 Senegalese Malick Diouf and 6-foot-6 rookie guard Chicco Briones of the UP Fighting Maroons, who emerged as runners-up in the recently concluded UAAP basketball tournament. In addition to season 84 championship and a season 85 MVP title, Diouf boasts two Mythical Five accolades under his belt. And despite his limited court time, Cebu-native Briones is inspired by the Fighting Maroons’ run this year and is gearing up to take on a bigger role and create more impact for the team.

Joining them are NU’s team captain Patrick Yu, who hails from Cebu, and Pampanga-native Jolo Manansala. A licensed engineer, Yu captained the NU Bulldogs in securing their recent UAAP bronze finish.

UE’s Fil-Am guard Gjerard Wilson and Fil-Canadian shooting guard Jack Cruz-Dumont also signed with PUMA. Despite cutting his UAAP debut due to a shoulder injury, Wilson vows to come back stronger and rally his team for a better finish next year. Scoring 35.95 efficiency1 in his first UAAP season, Cruz-Dumont helped lead the Red Warriors to their 6th-place finish.

Completing the squad are FEU’s power forward Xyrus Torres and former Gilas Pilipinas Youth standout Jorick Bautista. 5-foot-11 guard Bautista was one of the season’s top 10 scorers and led the three-point scoring board, recording 43.21% efficiency in 13 games1.

PUMA noted that this is only the beginning for the PUMA PH Hoops Squad. “We aim to grow this exclusive group of elite basketball athletes. We will sign more athletes in the near future to further solidify this talented crop of players. Our commitment to these athletes, who are no doubt some of the future of Philippine basketball, and the sports will live on,” Misa added.

Watch out for the exciting projects and campaigns with the new members of the #PUMAFam #PUMAPH through the official Instagram pages @pumahoops @puma.

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Kai Sotto is PUMA's first-ever Filipino Global Brand Ambassador, the New Cat in its Squad

Get ready for an exciting new addition to PUMA's global squad: Kai Sotto, is the first Filipino baller to become its global brand ambassador. As a top basketball prospect in Asia with a huge following, Kai's partnership with PUMA is expected to increase the brand's presence in the basketball scene and appeal to young consumers who relate with his talent, charisma, and style.

Global sports brand PUMA marks its bold foray into the Philippine basketball market by naming Kai Sotto as its first Filipino baller to serve as the newest global brand ambassador. The German sports brand revealed its partnership with the Filipino hooper import during its recently concluded autumn/winter collection preview party last April 19.

PUMA names Kai Sotto its first Filipino baller to serve as global brand ambassador

One of the best homegrown players from the Philippines, Kai is considered as one of the top basketball prospects in Asia and has a significant following among Filipino basketball fans the world over. His partnership with PUMA is set to strengthen the brand’s presence in the basketball scene and appeal to young consumers who identify with his talent, personality and style.

“His rising popularity and boundless potential in the local and international basketball scene is a testament to his hard work to make a name for himself and raise the Philippine flag on the world stage. Kai’s basketball career mirrors the PUMA brand values of bravery, confidence, determination and joy, all of which advance our FOREVER FASTER mantra,” said PUMA Philippines Country Manager Paolo Misa.

The former UAAP juniors champion and MVP left the Philippines in 2019 to pursue his NBA dreams and has since made an impressive stint in the international basketball scene as a Filipino import for club teams in Australia and Japan. Kai signed with Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) from 2021 to 2022. Today, the 7-foot-3 Pinoy import is playing with the Hiroshima Dragonflies of Japan B.League. The Filipino basketball community hopes for his return to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas to help the country’s campaign at the FIBA World Cup this year.

“My style and story as an athlete has always been about getting faster and better in every game. I am proud to be part of a brand that represents both my story and the values that are inherent to Pinoys. I am excited and happy to be the new cat in the PUMA family,” said Kai.

PUMA’s partnership with Kai marks the start of the brand’s expansion plans in the market as a full subsidiary. As the first Filipino hooper to be part of the global PUMA family, Kai shares the excitement of his fans at home and looks forward to engaging with them and achieving even greater things with the fastest sports brand in the world.

In a true FOREVER FASTER fashion, the sports brand welcomed Kai as its newest global ambassador with a dedicated page on PUMA Philippine website. Fans can now visit the page to see Kai’s favorite PUMA collection such as suede classic sneakers, basketball shoes, hoodies, and sweatpants. Follow Kai Sotto and PUMA’s social media pages for thrilling news and updates about the collaboration.