ADIDAS GEARS UP FOR NBA 2010

    Posted by GREENARCHERS.PH

Welcome to the performance revolution. Sportswear juggernaut adidas introduces its latest active line, TECHFIT, the latest compression system that gives you effective edge on the court.

NBA COURT REVOLUTION
Be faster with TECHFIT Powerweb or Be stronger with TECHFIT Padded and revolutionize the way you play. With Powerweb, you literally elevate your game with the use of compression fabrics and applied TPU bands in specific areas. These supports key muscle groups and stores elastic energy to deliver explosive acceleration and endurance throughout athletic movement. On the other hand, Padded compression protects you from flying knees and elbows and gives you extra freedom for that crossover or slam, turning the pounded into the pounder! With the TECHFIT Team System, adidas offers a new arsenal to help you become better for your brotherhood—whether you choose more speed or more protection.
Leading the performance revolution, adidas serves as the Official Compression Brand of the NBA for its 2009 to 2010 season. As the official outfitter of the best players on planet, adidas provides all 450 players across 30 NBA teams with TECHFIT Padded and Powerweb compression base layer to be worn underneath their uniforms for optimal on-court performance. This exclusive NBA Partnership highlights adidas TECHFIT as a complete and customizable system to address every player’s individual needs regardless of the game situation.

BE FASTER
adidas TECHFIT has been tested most notably by 2009 NBA All-Star Dwight Howard. Nicknames Superman, the 6’ 11”-center and power forward of the Orlando Magic is widely regarded as one of the most powerful giants in the NBA and one of the league’s best rebounder. To elevate his game, he needs to be faster.

adidas TECHFIT PowerWeb combines compression fabrics and a web of strategically placed Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) powerbands to boost power to key muscle groups for more efficient movement increasing acceleration, improving endurance, and reducing fatigue.
Benefits of the PowerWeb line, such as in the use of the calf sleeve, include increased blood flow, which speeds up the process of energy creation in muscles. PowerWeb tanks improve core stability, which is the key to achieving strength, flexibility, and explosive power. By pulling back shoulders and flattening the abdomen, it also promotes better athletic posture, creating subtle mechanical cues that propel you faster. In addition, TPU bands act like a slingshot, returning elastic energy for running and jumping. Included in the TECHFIT PowerWeb range are tanks, shorts, calf sleeves, and elbow sleeves.

BE STRONGER
Chicago Bulls point guard Dwight Rose, an NBA Rookie of the Year awardee, is one of the fastest players in the game. In his first playoff outing, he recorded a whopping 36 points, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabaar’s record for most points scored by a rookie in his debut. To elevate his game, he needs to be stronger.

adidas TECHFIT Padded, which includes padded tanks and shorts, features closed cell foam padding to protect athletes with maximum flexibility. By providing cushioning in the areas that take the most impact during a game, TECHFIT Padded is designed to resist the realities of flying elbows, hard fouls, and falls to the floor that come with the game, helping you battle in the paint and drive the lane. An interlocked cell pattern also provides 27 percent increased flexibility and ventilation for the most comfortable and driest protection. Both PowerWeb and Padded products are equipped with ClimaCool fabric technology, which manages moisture and sweat, allowing the body to stay cool and dry.
Overall, adidas TECHFIT is designed to give athletes a distinct physiological and psychological advantage. Through enhanced speed and increased power, the highly advanced compression apparel delivers proven performance, giving you the confidence to perform better just like your NBA heroes.

The adidas TECHFIT range is now available in leading adidas stores.

Adidas Unveils Official Match Ball for 2010 FIFA World Cup™

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Adidas to Launch 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Official Merchandising Zones and Event Merchandise Across South East Asia

Manila, 5 December 2009—Adidas, official sponsor and partner for 2010 FIFA World Cup™, celebrates the global unveiling of the world cup 2010 ‘Official Match Ball’ concurrently with the draw event in Cape Town, South Africa.

“The official match ball is an iconic part of the World Cup and adidas has become synonymous with this highly-anticipated international event. The unveiling of the replica represents adidas’ strong belief that fans form the backbone of the sport and we want to share the moment and celebration with them,” says Marcus Chew, Senior Brand Manager, adidas South East Asia.

In the Philippines, World Cup Zones will open to the public on 5 December 09. Working closely with key retailers to bring the World Cup merchandising experience closer to consumers, these ‘zones’ will feature the latest in Federation football fashion as the event draws near. To kick-start the excitement, these World Cup Zones will be offering a free World Cup Mini Ball to all who purchase a minimum single receipt of PhP3,500 of any football merchandise items. Promo period is from December 5 to 31, 2009. Football fans can expect more exciting World Cup Zone-related offers as the countdown to the big game begins.

This year’s official match ball, the “JABULANI”, was created and designed by adidas specifically for the most important and celebrated event in the history of football. The “JABULANI” will only be used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, which takes place in Cape Town, South Africa on 11 June 2010.

FOOTBALL IS A PASSION THAT UNITES THE WORLD

The name “JABULANI” originates from the Bantu language, which is in isiZulu, one of the eleven official languages of the Republic of South Africa. Literally translated, “JABULANI” means “to celebrate”. The name of the new match ball appropriately pays tribute to the passionate football celebration international fans will enjoy in South Africa next summer.

UNIQUE DESIGN

The “JABULANI” features a unique South African-inspired design. Eleven different colors are used in the adidas “JABULANI”, the eleventh adidas World Cup ball. These 11 colours represent the 11 players in every team, the 11 official languages of South Africa, and the 11 South African tribes on the African continent. The colorful design brings together the tremendous diversity of the country in harmonious unity. Four triangle-shaped design elements on a white background lend the ball a unique appearance in African spirit. Like the outer facade of Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium, individual design elements also capture the vibrant color of South Africa.

GROUND-BREAKING TECHNOLOGY

The Match Ball for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ features ground-breaking technology known as the “Grip’n’Groove” profile, which gives the best players in the world with a ball that enables exceptionally stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions.

Eight 3-D spherically formed EVA and TPU panels are spherically thermal molded together, harmoniously enveloping the inner carcass. The result is a ball that is perfectly round and even more accurate than ever before. The Grip’n’Groove profile, made prominent by Aero Grooves, circles around the entire ball in an optimal aerodynamic way. The integrated grooves provide unmatched flight characteristics, making this the most stable and most accurate adidas ball ever. Additionally, the micro texture of the new ball's outer skin has also been given a facelift—a futuristic texture with fantastic grip, giving players full control over the ball under all weather conditions.

The ground-breaking performance features of the adidas “JABULANI” have been confirmed in comprehensive tests at Loughborough University in England and in the wind tunnel and the adidas football laboratory in Scheinfeld, Germany.
adidas always involves world-class athletes in the development and testing of its products. The “JABULANI” superb design and technology has received rave reviews and praise from some of the world’s top footballers such as Kaká, Michael Ballack, Petr Cech, and Frank Lampard. adidas partners, AC Milan, FC Bayern München, the Orlando Pirates, and Ajax Cape Town tested the ball in 2008, contributing to improvements in the surface structure and material composition.

The new match ball will be available in adidas Sport Performance Concept stores and partnering distributor outlets from 5 December 2009.
In the future, adidas will continue to use innovative technology to extend its world-leading position in football production and thus strengthen its position as the authentic symbol of high-performance sporting goods for professionals and amateurs alike. adidas also intends to unveil more revolutionary innovations in match ball production for future UEFA, FIFA, and CAF competitions. The adidas innovation team is already working on innovations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

World Cup Zones in Philippines
1. Adidas shop Trinoma - Level M2, Trinoma Mall, Edsa corner North Ave., Quezon City
2. Adidas shop Greenbelt - P111 Ground Floor, Greenbelt 3 Mall Ayala Center, Makati City
3. Adidas shop Rockwell - Stall No. 228, Level 2, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City
4. Adidas shop Angeles - Unit 2082-2083 Level II, Marque Mall, Francisco G. Nepomuceno, Angeles City
5. Adidas shop Ayala Cebu - Upper Ground Level, Active Zone, Ayala Center, Cebu City
6. Planet Sports ATC - Ground Level, New Wing, Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City

New adidas PREDATOR®_X

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The All Blacks aim for kicking excellence against England
with the new adidas PREDATOR®_X

London, November 2009—The new PREDATOR®_X adidas rugby boot was sported by Dan Carter of the All Blacks as his football team continued their European end-of-season tour against England. Introducing a pioneering PowerSpine technology, the PREDATOR®_X is distinguished by its unprecedented increase in shooting power of seven percent in comparison to its predecessor.

The new PREDATOR®_X was developed over five years by a team of experts from different fields, including biomechanical and material specialists and design and footwear developers, and then tested by some of the best rugby kickers in the world, including Dan Carter of New Zealand, Ronan O’Gara of Ireland, Jonny Wilkinson of England, and South African World Champions Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, and Jean de Villiers.

The results are an astounding quality and fit improved by OptiFit technology. This technology brings all of the shoe’s materials as close as possible to the foot, creating a snug, three-dimensional ergonomic shape around the foot and providing greater control in movement, ball control, and handling.

The new PowerSpine technology reduces the force on the foot when a kicker strikes the ball. Instead, it transfers the saved energy directly to the ball, which results in increased shooting power. It also decreases the flex and harmful impact on the metatarsal area of the foot, minimizing the risk of injuries.

Dan Carter says, “This new PREDATOR®_X fits like a glove. The PowerSpine element in the sole of the shoe gives fantastic support and enables excellent power and precision when kicking, while the adapted swerve zone at the side of the boot really enhances ball control.”

The PREDATOR®_X rugby boot will be available starting January 2010.

From rainbow country: Eddie V! (from inboundpass.com)

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Note: Re-posted from an article by Charlie Cuna at inboundpass.com

The name may seem very unfamiliar to many, because the UAAP career of Eduardo “Eddie” Viaplana was almost as quiet as he is in real life, except when he was on one of his three-point shooting sprees, which oftentimes broke the game wide open for De La Salle and made the Green Faithful roar with approval.

Eddie Viaplana is a personal friend, someone this writer grew up watching, played with and against, and idolized as a shooter extraordinaire with unlimited range. Rarely has there been a shooter in the collegiate ranks with such a quick release and deadly accuracy from beyond the three-point arc, and fans of collegiate hoops in the late ‘80s will surely remember Eddie V, as he was oftentimes called, as a vital cog in the back-to-back La Salle UAAP Seniors champion teams of 1989 and 1990.

Born on 05 October 1968, Eddie did not become serious with basketball until he was already in his teens. Although he was taller than most kids his age, his greatest basketball skill, even then, was shooting from the outside. At the start of games, he jumped at center mainly due to his height, but after the jumpball, he would settle into his comfort zone, which was anywhere from ten to thirty feet away from the basket, and hoist up shots from anywhere, hitting his line-drive, from-behind the head set-shot, more often than not.

The shooting and scoring skills of Eddie V started gaining notoriety in the Dasmariñas Village Inter-color Summer Leagues in Makati, where he would regularly score in the 30s. This was despite double and triple-teaming. His quick release and shooting style allowed him to hoist his shot despite multiple coverage, and many times, his point total would be in multiples of three, because three-point shooting is what he did best, and what he did most. His skills did not go unnoticed, since in the Dasmariñas summer league, he played with and against many other standouts, such as Richard Bachmann and Joey Santamaria, who would be his teammates at De La Salle, and brothers Jun and Billy Reyes, of Ateneo and UST, respectively. Regulars at the Dasmariñas court would see Eddie routinely stand at the half-court line and hit set-shot three pointers, one after the other. This writer was himself a witness.

Enrolled in High School at little-known Southridge in Alabang, which did not even have a basketball varsity team until school-year 1985-86, his graduating year, did not hinder Eddie. Playing under coaches Leo Daez (who once played for Ateneo), Ompong Segurra (yes, of Toyota fame), and Bobby Rentoy, the buzz grew stronger about the long-range gunner from the south, when, despite strong centers from other schools (e.g. Benjie Paras of San Beda and Danny Francisco of Ateneo), he was named the Mythical Team center for the MMBL tournament. He started at center for Southridge, being its tallest player at only 6’2, and averaged about 30ppg, although once again, most of his shots came from the outside. Despite just one year of high school varsity basketball, he tried his luck as a walk-on at De La Salle, which was just entering the UAAP. Going through regular try-outs, coach Derrick Pumaren awarded him a spot on the team, which already included Bachmann and Santamaria, Gee Abanilla, Mike Huang, Dong Vergeire and Dindo Pumaren.

De La Salle did adequately in its first two seasons in the UAAP, but its breakthrough season was in 1988, when it reached the finals against archrival Ateneo. De La Salle lost in a close game, but, despite Dindo Pumaren leaving afterwards, De La Salle had a powerful team for the next season, with outstanding players both in the front and back courts. In ’88, DLSU won the National Inter-Collegiate Championship, a precursor of the current PCCL, previewing their roster of talent for the next UAAP season.

In the next two years, De La Salle would win back-to-back championships, with Eddie V starting at the shooting guard spot. His shooting was, in fact, so lethal, that plays were run specifically to get him open for his split-second release, usually from rainbow territory, which found the bottom of the net. Other players on the powerhouse champion teams were household names at the time, like Noli Locsin, Dwight Lago, Jun Limpot, Jonjon Cardel, Teddy Monasterio, Jonas Mariano, Addy Papa, and Rafa Dinglasan.

While still playing for De La Salle, Eddie played briefly for Magnolia in the PABL (now PBL). After five years and two championships with the De La Salle varsity, Eddie continued his PABL career with the Triple V franchise, also under Derrick Pumaren, and with Burger Machine under Chot Reyes. He was also part of a PABL selection that represented the country in the Jones Cup in 1991. It was after the Jones Cup when, during a practice session with Burger Machine, Eddie injured his knee, suffering an ACL tear. After a slow recovery, he decided to retire for good and join the family business, which deals in construction machinery. Burger Machine, recognizing his high basketball acumen, offered him the head coaching job, but, in his words he “politely declined”, knowing he was not ready. Instead, he recommended his good friend and ex-teammate Perry Ronquillo, who won a championship as head coach of Burger Machine and eventually went on to coach in the PBA.

Growing up, Eddie idolized PBA legend Ramon Fernandez. But, it is his two other favorite players who he perhaps patterned his game after, with trademark great shooting touches – three-time PBA MVP Bogs Adornado and three-time NBA MVP Larry Bird – two of the best shooters ever to lace up high-tops. It was in emulating them that he developed his great touch from beyond the three point line.

Now, Eddie is firmly entrenched in the family business. He has been married since 1996 and has one daughter, Isabella, who is twelve years old. His interests include jogging, surfing the Internet, watching movies, reading, listening to music and watching and playing sports on occasion. He still loves basketball and is quite up to date with current goings-on in the major basketball leagues here and abroad.

When talking about the UAAP, Eddie says that he treasures every moment of the five years he had at De La Salle. For him, it was definitely a dream come true, to be able to play college basketball. He was just glad to have made the team, but is overwhelmed that more than just making the team, he started on two champion squads. Definitely, what stand out for him are the back-to-back championships in 1989 against FEU and 1990 versus UE. He is thankful to have played in the 1988 finals against Ateneo, even if De La Salle lost, because the experience gained there was invaluable.

Eddie says that the players on the De La Salle teams he was on were very close and got along well. He remembers the Ateneo players during his time very well, too – Jun Reyes, Francisco, Albert Mendoza, Seph Canlas, Jet Nieto and Nonoy Chuatico. He particularly remembers Nieto, who played the same position he did, but for the Eagles. Other notable players that played shooting guard at the time, whom Eddie guarded and who guarded him, were Bong Ravena of UE, Joey Guanio of UP, Nandy Garcia of Adamson, Andy de Guzman of FEU, Bobby Jose of UST and “a certain Artificio” of NU, Eddie recalls. He remembers that he was runner-up to Guanio in a three-point shooting tournament that ran for a whole season in 1989.

As for Ateneo, Eddie says that there was mutual respect between its players and the Archers. There was always the “alaskahan” between them, but he never took it personally and even found it entertaining. Some of his good friends studied in Ateneo.

Eddie envies the players nowadays, saying that “they never had it so good.” There is just so much support in terms of media coverage and alumni backing. During his time, Eddie said, “We were ecstatic to get a free pair of shoes and a bag!” But, while he admits that the players nowadays are more athletic, he doubts whether, skill-wise, they are superior to the players of his day (and says this with a big smile on his face). He does admit, though, that “every player is biased towards his era.” But indeed, the college players now get a lot more perks and benefits, which make him wish he was born later (!), but that shows progress and development. Other than occasionally watching the games, he is not involved with the UAAP today. He is happy, of course, with the performance of his alma mater in the past fifteen years, enjoying great success and many championship runs.

As far as the international game, he acknowledges that teams are getting stronger and stronger and keeping up is very difficult, but not impossible. We just have to take it a step at a time, and perhaps reigning once again in Asia is the first step.

Although he never made it to the PBA, he thinks the league is doing great. What he dislikes, though, is that some teams have many of the superstars on their rosters, which has “the tendency to cause a lack of competitive balance” (Funny he said this, since Eddie is the brother-in-law of Alaska Coach Tim Cone, who is married to the elder sister of Eddie, and you all know Coach Tim publicly expressed his displeasure with some recent trades.).

Having had the opportunity to play in the UAAP, make the finals three times and win successive championships, Eddie can only look back and smile. Some said he was too slow, others, that he was not aggressive enough. But despite his shortcomings, he worked hard, played for some of the most successful coaches in the country, and started on winning teams, always exhibiting sportsmanship and class. While his name may not echo the way many of the former UAAP superstars’ names do, those who remember him will never forgot his marksmanship from beyond the arc, from rainbow country, where he thrived.