PBA: Jamie Malonzo wears swoosh-less Kobes in Ginebra loss

Ginebra’s Jamie Malonzo goes for a layup against San Miguel’s Marcio Lassiter.–PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—There was something interestingly odd with Jamie Malonzo’s sneakers in Ginebra’s loss to San Miguel in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at Araneta Coliseum.

Malonzo wore a pair of Nike Kobe 6 “Reverse” just like the Beermen’s Jericho Cruz, Terrence Romeo and Marcio Lassiter.

Malonzo’s pair, however, was different from the others with both the “swooshes” on the medial and lateral sides of his shoes also in red instead of black.

The 27-year-old forward said he took a page out of Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who wore the same shoes with covered-up swooshes during a Christmas game against the Los Angeles Lakers last year. Brown is currently a sneaker free agent after his contract with Adidas expired.

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“They [shoes] were customized and they were inspired by Jaylen Brown’s swoosh-less Grinches. I know he’s a free agent and he isn’t signed to a basketball shoe company so he did that,” said Malonzo.

“I’ve had a few custom kicks before so it was kind of normal when my teammates saw it.”

Malonzo finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the Gin Kings’ 95-92 loss.

Expect Malonzo to wear his custom sneakers often.

“Little bit [more.] Once I get a comfortable shoe, I stick with it.”