New Era to Become the Official Headwear Partner of the NBA, WNBA and NBA D-League

New Era and the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today an expanded global licensing partnership that makes the brand the official authentic headwear provider of the NBA, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and NBA Development League (NBA D-League).

As the league’s official authentic headwear provider, New Era will exclusively produce caps for marquee NBA events, including the NBA Draft presented by State Farm^®, Conference Finals and NBA Finals, with key products like the NBA Draft Cap and Official Locker Room Championship Cap.  The multiyear deal comes as the NBA celebrates its 20-year relationship with New Era, and will include marketing and retail activations within league and team platforms.

“We’ve been a partner of the NBA for many years and are excited for the opportunity to continue to work with such a storied league and its outstanding teams,” said Chris Koch, President & CEO, New Era.  “We’re looking forward to using team and league logos to bring unique designs and styles to the market for both players and fans.”

As part of the expanded partnership, New Era launched the 59FIFTY fitted headwear collection for the start of the 2016-17 season, and will unveil lifestyle-inspired products during NBA All-Star 2017 in New Orleans.  Additionally, New Era will produce all headwear silhouettes with current team marks, including the 9FIFTY Snapback, internationally.

“We’re very excited to grow our relationship with New Era and explore new ways to share premium product with our fans,” said NBA Vice President, Global Partnerships Lisa Piken Koper.  “The NBA Draft and Finals will reflect our refreshed approach to the category.”

Merchandise will be available at www.NBAStore.com, www.neweracap.com, the Flagship NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, all NBA team venues, and at New Era flagship stores and retailers around the world.

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ABOUT NEW ERA

Since 1920, New Era has been hand-crafting the finest headwear in the world. Today, with apparel and accessories lines, the brand is a market leader rooted in sports and an influencer of street and lifestyle culture around the globe. With over 500 licenses in its portfolio, New Era is the brand of choice in the worlds of sport, fashion, music and entertainment.  The Company is headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y., and its products are sold in more than 80 countries. For more information on New Era’s global offices and partnerships, visit www.neweracap.com and social channels @neweracap.

ABOUT NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League.  The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2015-16 season featured 100 international players from 37 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com and the NBA App, which achieved record viewership and traffic during the 2015-16 season.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than one billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

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NBA Global Games Herald Start of the New Season

Question: How do you know that the NBA regular season is about to begin?

Answer: There’s a lot of buzz worldwide about the NBA pre-season including the Global Games.

The NBA Global Games are a series of NBA games played outside of the United States and Canada where NBA teams play against fellow NBA squads or foreign ball clubs.

The first official overseas game featuring an NBA team was played on Sept. 7, 1978 when the Washington Bullets traveled to Israel to take on Maccabi Tel Aviv in an exhibition game.  More games would be played across Europe and the Soviet Union until 1988.  In 1990, the first regular season NBA Games outside the United States were held in Tokyo featuring the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz.

With the league expanding its international footprint, the NBA Global Games have been staged in various parts of the world including Spain, England, Brazil, Istanbul, Italy, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei and the Philippines.  The NBA and SM staged the first-ever NBA preseason game in the Philippines between the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 10, 2013.  Since 2004, thirteen NBA teams have played in Greater China specifically in Beijing, Guangzhou, Macao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Taipei.

The 10th edition of NBA Global Games China, featuring the New Orleans Pelicans and the Houston Rockets, will be staged in Shanghai at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Oct. 9, followed by a rematch in Beijing on Oct. 12 at The LeSports Center.  This will be the Rockets’ fourth trip to Greater China following visits in 2004, 2010 and 2013.

NBA Global Games China 2016 will feature a variety of off-court activities, including the fifth Fan Appreciation Day presented by Dongfeng Nissan on Oct. 7 in Shanghai, providing thousands of fans with the chance to participate in on-court games and watch the Pelicans and Rockets in open practice.  The league will also conduct NBA Cares and Jr. NBA community events and league partners will host interactive fan activities.

This year’s batch of Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA All-Stars will watch their favorite Pelicans and Rockets players in Shanghai along with other Jr. NBA All-Stars from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 All-Stars is composed of Kai Zachary Sotto, Tracy Carl Dadang, Fritz Felix Valencia, Harold Alarcon, Julian Jugo, Miguel Tan, Andrei Lechoncito, Rhic Gatuz, Jearico Nunez, Isaiah Blanco Hontiveros, Rozie Amatong, Florence Jill Talas, Aloha Marie Betanio, Maria Cecilia Quelenderino and Darle Regasajo.

Local celebrity Gerald Anderson and #ShootLikeTheNBA winners Kat Tan and Paolo Miguel Bernardo will also travel to Shanghai to watch the NBA Global Games.
                                                                      

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League.  The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2015-16 season featured 100 international players from 37 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com and the NBA App, which achieved record viewership and traffic during the 2015-16 season.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than one billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

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#ShootLikeTheNBA and Get a Chance to Watch the NBA Global Games in Shanghai for Free

Are you always shooting crumpled paper in the trash can?  Do you often aim imaginary basketballs in the air pretending to be Kobe Bryant or even picture yourself as the next Steph Curry in your own backyard?

Now get your camera phones ready and unleash the NBA star in you because it’s time to put that basketball craze into good use.  Whether you’re shooting basketballs or some replica thereof, you can join the #ShootLikeTheNBA promo launched on NBA Philippines Facebook.

Think of the most creative way to shoot a basketball, ping pong ball, rubber ball, crumpled paper, or any other object through anything that resembles a hoop.  Use your imagination, do it with flair, throw it up with gusto, blindfold yourself, tie one arm behind your back, and shoot like the NBA! Capture the sequence on video and upload on your Facebook or Instagram account set to public with the hashtag #ShootLikeTheNBA.

Entries will be judged based on creativity with the Top 2 entries winning one (1) ticket each to the NBA Global Games China 2016 in Shanghai featuring the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans.  The winners will also join local celebrity Gerald Anderson to experience the NBA Global Games in Shanghai on Oct. 9 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.  Runners-up will receive exclusive NBA merchandise.

   

The 10^th edition of NBA Global Games China will be headlined by Houston Rockets’ four-time NBA All-Star and 2012 Olympic gold medalist James Harden, 2011-2012 Most Improved Player Ryan Anderson, and 2009 NBA Champion Trevor Ariza as well as New Orleans Pelicans’ three-time NBA All-Star and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Anthony Davis, 2016 No. 6 overall draft pick Buddy Hield, and 2013 NBA All-Star Jrue Holiday.

To learn more about the contest, visit the official website at http://shootlikethenba.com/philippines/.  Fans can also get event updates by following the NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/philsnba.  For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League.  The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2015-16 season featured 100 international players from 37 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com and the NBA App, which achieved record viewership and traffic during the 2015-16 season.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than one billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

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Minnesota Timberwolves Dancers L.A. Clippers Mascot Chuck will bring excitement to NBA 3X Philippines presented by Panasonic

Feel how an NBA game atmosphere is like, head on out to NBA 3X Philippines 2016 presented by Panasonic at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall from August 19-21, 2016.

This year, watch the Minnesota Timberwolves Dancers—Ariel, Ashley, Courtney, Demi, Dua and McKenna—bring their high energy, fierce routines and spirited numbers on the dance floor.  Beyond being eye-catching entertainers, they will show you that they are also certified athletes.  L.A. Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor will also spread good vibes to the MOA audience by dancing, dunking and spreading the enthusiasm all around. 

The Timberwolves Dancers and L.A. Clippers mascot Chuck will join Michael Carter-Williams of the Milwaukee Bucks and interact with basketball fans of all ages at the sixth consecutive staging of NBA 3X Philippines.  The event will showcase authentic NBA entertainment, and will be highlighted by a 3-on-3 tournament featuring 200 men’s and women’s teams from all over the country.

The competitive 3-on-3 tournament includes divisions for boys (under-13, under-16, under-18, and open category), girls (under-16 and open category) and the invitation only Celebrity Division.  The Celebrity Division in the 3-on-3 tournament will bring together well-known local screen and TV personalities who will bring their games to the court.

Free fan activities include shooting and passing stations; NBA 3X Halftime, and many more.  Families and mall goers can also watch performances by DJs, join fun activities at partner booths, and enjoy celebrity sightings.

The official partners of NBA 3X Philippines 2016 presented by Panasonic include CloudFone, Globe Telecom, Touch Mobile, and Sprite, with SM Mall of Asia and Spalding serving as Supporting Partners.  Official NBA broadcasters for the event are ABS-CBN Sports and Action, Basketball TV, and NBA Premium TV.

For more information on NBA 3X Philippines 2016 and to register for the 3-on-3 tournament, log on to www.nba3x.com/philippines.  Fans can also get event updates by following the NBA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nba_philippines and through Facebook at www.facebook.com/nba3xasia and www.facebook.com/philsnba.  For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League.  The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2015-16 season featured 100 international players from 37 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA.com and the NBA app, which achieved record traffic during the 2014-15 season, as well as NBA TV.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than one billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.



About Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation

Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation (PMPC), with factories located in Taytay, Rizal and in Sta. Rosa, Laguna is a manufacturer, importer, and distributor of electronic, electrical, mechanical, electro-mechanical appliances, other types of machines, parts and components and related products bearing the brand name, “Panasonic” in the Philippines.  PMPC primarily manufactures refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and electric fans.  The company has a wide base of sales, distribution, and service centers strategically located at key municipalities, cities, and provinces all over the Philippines.  PMPC posted a sales performance of 8.7 billion pesos for the year ended March 31, 2016.  For more information about the company, please visit PMPC’s website at http://www.panasonic.com/ph.


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NBA Stores in the Philippines to Donate NBA Name & Number T-Shirt Sale Proceeds to Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc.

photo credit: philstar

The three NBA Stores in the Philippines, which are managed by International Athletic Trading Company, Inc. (IATC), announced today the launch of a retail promotion to support Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) in providing more Filipinos with access to quality education.

To commemorate the 10-year anniversary of NBA Cares, the league’s global social responsibility program, all three NBA Stores in the Philippines will donate a portion of NBA Name & Number T-shirt sale proceeds from Aug. 10 to Sept. 13 to KCFI.  Proceeds from this initiative will fund the foundation’s education program focused on providing multimedia learning resources for students in grades K-12 and training teachers from public schools in the National Capital Region of Luzon.

“As an organization, we are aware of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and how achieving inclusive and quality education is a global priority,” said IATC President and CEO Melvin Lloyd Lim.  “We value this opportunity to work with Knowledge Channel Foundation and look forward to bringing this program to life as our own way of giving back to the Philippine education system.”

“We want to provide the Filipino children with multimedia learning resources that provide an enriching academic journey,” said Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. President Rina Lopez Bautista.  “Given the popularity of the NBA in the Philippines, we are excited to see how this initiative will enable more people to contribute to our mission of uplifting the lives of fellow Filipinos from poverty through education.”

KCFI is a not-for-profit organization helping empower Filipinos through educational media for the past 17 years.  Knowledge Channel’s on-air, online and on-demand educational videos and other multimedia learning resources are accessible to more than 5 million learners in both formal and alternative learning systems in an estimated 6,000 schools and learning centers nationwide.  In addition, KCFI is immersed in training teachers and stakeholders who implement the KCFI educational program in the Philippines.

NBA Name & Number T-shirts are part of the comprehensive selection of authentic NBA merchandise available at all three NBA Stores in the Philippines, which also offer official jerseys, footwear, performance gear, lifestyle apparel, basketballs, toys and collectibles.  The NBA Stores at Glorietta 3, Mega Fashion Hall and TriNoma carry products from all 30 NBA teams, and feature brands such as 2K Sports, adidas, Mitchell & Ness, New Era, Panini, Spalding, Stance, and many more.

For more information on Knowledge Channel Foundation, visit www.kchonline.ph and follow the official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/knowledgechannel).  For all the latest news and updates on the NBA Stores in the Philippines and the NBA, visit www.nba.com and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/philsnba), Twitter (www.twitter.com/nba_philippines) and Instagram (@nbastoreph).




About the NBA
The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League.  The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2015-16 season featured 100 international players from 37 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA.com and the NBA app, which achieved record traffic during the 2014-15 season, as well as NBA TV.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than one billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

About International Athletic Trading Company Inc.
International Athletic Trading Company, Inc., (IATC, Inc.) is a joint venture partnership between Ever Fit Holding Company, Inc. and IP Ventures, Inc.  Ever Fit Holding Company, Inc. is engaged in retail and wholesale of apparel.  Its stakeholders have more than 25 years of experience in retail operations in major malls located in the Philippines.  It has 65 retail stores with an average selling floor area of 100 square meters.  Over the past five years, it has managed to grow its business at an annual compound growth rate of 6%.  The basic strength of its management lies in being able to immediately identify changing market trends and adopt strategies proactively.  IP Ventures Inc. is a leading investor and operator of Technology, Media and Telecom (“TMT”) businesses in the Philippines and Southeast Asia with over US$100 million in investments and deals.  IPVI has listed 3 companies on the Philippine Stock Exchange and has had joint-ventures and co-investments with PCCW, Tencent, GMA7, Philippine Star group and Kennet Partners.  IPVI has started and built into market leading positions businesses in online games (e-Games and Level Up), Internet Data Center (IP-Converge), business process outsourcing (PCCW Teleservices), cybersecurity (Prolexic) and payments.  In the retail sector, IPVI’s brands include Netopia, NBA Store, Highlands Coffee, Kitaro and Ipay.

About Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc.
KCFI is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to uplifting the lives of Filipinos from poverty through education.  For the past 17 years, KCFI has been helping empower the Filipino through educational media.  Through the Knowledge Channel (K Channel) on-air, on-line and on-demand, our educational videos and other multimedia learning resources (MMLR) are accessible to more than 5 million learners in both the formal and alternative learning systems in about 6,000 schools and learning centers nationwide.  Third party studies separately conducted by UP, DLSU and AdMU over the past years attribute significant positive impact in students’ achievement scores, learning outcomes and attitudes towards learning to the K Channel learning intervention.  KCFI also trains teachers and education leaders to help them effectively carry out their tasks of ensuring excellent and meaningful learning outcomes.


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