Now featuring lighter shades, here are Gilas Pilipinas’ new team kits, which will be debuted in their Paris Olympics qualifiers in Riga, Latvia.
After quite some time, Gilas Pilipinas’ jerseys are also entering a new chapter, with sportswear giant Nike unveiling the new threads to be worn by all Gilas squads including the men’s, women’s, youth, and 3×3 teams.
Per the Swoosh, Gilas’ road jerseys will come in a vibrant shade of blue with yellow accents, while their home kits will be white with touches of red and blue. Similar to other national team kits — you might have guessed it — these colors are meant to represent the Philippine flag.
The men’s squad will officially debut these kits in their Olympics qualifiers in Riga, Latvia, where they will attempt to snap a 52-year absence in the international sporting tilt.
“The colors remind me of the blue oceans that surround the Philippines with the yellow signifying the rays of the sun. They represent the aura and natural beauty of the Philippines in a soft and elegant way, symbolizing the hospitality that Filipinos have to offer,” said Chris Newsome, who will be part of the Latvia contingent.
A lighter shade
While we have yet to see the home kits, Gilas Pillipinas’ trademark road jerseys will receive a shift in creative direction. Most notably, a brighter shade of blue was used on these new jerseys, which is arguably the lightest among Gilas’ road uniforms over the years.
In fact, all national colors were used on this road jersey. On top of the light blue base, there’s also the Philippine yellow that serves as the jersey’s eye-catching accent. In addition, white text also returns on a Gilas Pilipinas jersey, which will now be accompanied by some red accents.
In line with other Nike-outfitted countries, a pinstripe-like pattern is also used on Gilas’ newest kits, which should be a first given Nike’s minimalist design philosophy in past years.
All in all, Gilas’ new team kits will be quite different from what Filipino fans are used to. Take it from longtime Gilas vet June Mar Fajardo who had this to say: “I like the new jerseys, they are really nice. They are something new compared to our previous Gilas uniforms. They represent a new chapter for me and a new chapter for Gilas.”
Banner Image from Nike Philippines.
Related Stories:
Who Would Gilas Pilipinas Face If They Make The Olympics?
Dwight Ramos is ‘Good to Go’ for Gilas Pilipinas in the OQT
A New Sport, Sustainability, and More: 4 Milestones and Innovations We’ll See at the Paris Olympics