UST star Rhenz Abando. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Entering the Final Four of the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament is usually a special achievement, be it for a first-timer or a veteran.
These special occasions usually see players try to rock sneakers that would fit the moment and the likes of CJ Cansino, Rhenz Abando, and Wendell Comboy didn’t disappoint when they wore the yet to be released Kyrie 6 “Manila.”
Cansino and Abando, neophytes in the knockout stages, helped University of Santo Tomas trounced the graduating Comboy and Far Eastern University 81-71 in the stepladder game Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Kyrie 6 “Manila” is part of Kyrie Irving’s Preheat pack for his sixth signature shoe and the Manila colorway, together with 10 other city-based shoes, will hit retail shelves on Nov. 11.
Abando said wearing the shoes in his first Final Four was special for him and he described receiving the sneakers as if it was Christmas morning.
“When I opened the package I was surprised that it had shoes inside it. I think this is a testament to my hard work this season,” said Abando in Filipino who had a near double-double of nine points, eight rebounds, and two blocks against the Tamaraws.
Abando added that it’s humbling for him to be receiving perks at this stage of his career after growing up in La Union where he had little to no access to premium sneakers.
“It’s really surprising because when I was in the province I never got this kind of sneakers and now it’s being given to me,” said Abando.
Comboy, who won a title in his rookie year and appeared in the Final Four in all his years with FEU, said he feels blessed to have been given the chance to wear the sneakers days before its release.
The “Manila” colorway will only be available in the Philippines while the global release of the Kyrie 6, not including the Preheat pack, is on Nov. 22 with the “Jet Black” edition starting the line.
“It’s like we’re wearing Kyrie’s new signature shoes at the same time that he got his. I’m really blessed to have these,” said Comboy, who had eight points and seven rebounds in his exit game, in Filipino.
Cansino, meanwhile, doubled up on the Kyries when he wore “Manila” 6s in the first half and switching to the “Sandy Cheeks” Kyrie Low 2 that was part of the Spongebob Squarepants pack in the second.