The 2022 PBA Governors’ Cup concluded with the crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra San Miguel capturing the elusive title in six games. Before the confetti rained on the victors and the winning side roared in joy, both teams brought their A-game while flaunting some of their hyped sneakers.
With that said, here are the eye-catching sneakers that stood out during the final game of the 2022 PBA Governors’ Cup.
4. Nike Zoom Freak 3 “UNO 1” (Justin Brownlee, Ginebra)
Many doubted Brownlee’s capability to carry the team due to his age. However, the Ginebra resident import played his heart out in his quest for another title, and it definitely paid off as the 34-year-old bagged another Best Import award and a championship.
Brownlee showcased his all-around performance while donning a card game-inspired silhouette of NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s third signature pair, the Nike Zoom Freak 3 “UNO 1”.
Despite its questionable performance, the Nike Zoom Freak 3 remained one of the hottest signature sneakers on the market today, and the integration of the popular card game, UNO, as one of its silhouettes made the sneaker even more exciting.
Despite its unique inspiration, the good news is that this silhouette is not as hyped as one may think. Stocks of this colorway are not very hard to find, to be honest. However, a pair may cost slightly higher since other Zoom Freak 3 silhouettes can already be bought below their retail price.
3. Air Jordan 36 “Sport Blue” (Bong Quinto, Meralco)
Meralco wing Bong Quinto has been in the team’s rotation consistently and is a legitimate contributor. But despite the team’s failed championship campaign, Quinto laced up a very interesting sneaker in their last game.
In contrast to the performance of the sneaker that Brownlee donned in Game 6, Quinto laced up arguably the best performing basketball sneaker of 2021, the Air Jordan 36, in Sport Blue silhouette.
Flaunting the cutting-edge jacquard leno-weave, the Air Jordan 36 promotes both aesthetic and performance. Moreover, that is not everything this pair could offer. If you want to know more, click here for the complete performance review of the Air Jordan 36.
2. Zoom Kobe 5 Protro “Chaos” (Chris Newsome, Meralco)
Chris Newsome is one of the bright spots for the Meralco squad. Despite losing another championship bid, the 31-year-old cager has been piling up consistent numbers for Meralco and is looking to do so in the near future.
The same could be said of the former Blue Eagle’s shoe game. In the conference’s culminating game, Newsome brought out a pair of Zoom Kobe Protro 5 “Chaos”.
This silhouette of the Kobe Protro 5 was inspired by Heath Ledger’s portrayal of “The Joker” in 2008’s movie, The Dark Knight. Ledger was eventually awarded the Best Supporting Actor for his legendary performance in that movie.
The late Kobe Bryant was a huge fan of the film and Ledger’s portrayal. Symmetrically, the Lakers legend was obsessed with winning when it comes to basketball.
1. Zoom Kobe 5 Protro “Alternate Bruce Lee” (Tony Bishop, Meralco)
Former NBA player Shabazz Muhammad may have been the Bolts’ first option for the import slot last conference, but it was his replacement, Tony Bishop, who gave the Bolts a shot at the title. Despite the loss, the 32-year-old import battled toe-to-toe against Ginebra and proved his worth in the league.
Coincidentally, Bishop laced up a sneaker silhouette that was inspired by an iconic martial artist who was known for his fierceness and resilience. That sneaker came in the form of the Zoom Kobe 5 Protro “Alternate Bruce Lee”.
Both the owner of the signature shoe line, the late Kobe Bryant, and the legendary martial artist, Bruce Lee, were known for their competitive spirit towards their craft. Apparently, the same could be said for the Bolts import.
