2013 Los Angeles Summer Pro League (presented by AND1) kicks off 40th year

[Shoe Session – 7.17.13] – 2013 Los Angeles Summer Pro League (presented by AND1) kicks off 40th year

Inks: FLASH aka g_sk1lls 

Images: Summer Pro League website

The Los Angeles Summer Pro League is back on its 40^th year, and will re-open its doors to another batch of ballers beginning July 20 with a two-day tryout camp on July 17-18.  Similar to last year’s run, AND1 will be co-presenting the event and is a major partner (uniform sponsor for the tournament).  This year’s tournament also coincides with the AND1 brand’s 20^th anniversary (founded 1993).

The official tournament dates are as follows:

• Tryout Camp dates: July 17 and 18, 2013.
• League dates: July 20 - 29, 2013
• Championship game on July 31, 2013.

*Dates subject to change.

A teaser of this year’s SPL run has been posted online by Frederick Smith, Jr - founder and executive producer of The Basketball Channel.  You can view the Youtube clip by clicking HERE. 

Last year’s champions, AND1 Select, will be back to compete against topnotch teams bannered by collegiate standouts and professional basketball players from different parts of the USA (click HERE for related blog article).  SPL alumni includes current NBA players Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce, and Dirk Nowitzki, among others.  Over 800 former and current NBA players and thousands more of professional players around the world have played in the SPL, and every NBA team has already participated in it throughout its history.

Last year's champions, the AND1 Select team 

(image taken from SPL website banner).

Other event sponsors are Macleem, Dr. Kosari, IBL, Powerade, Coast Guard, The Basketball Channel, Wilson, Winning Ways Pro, ESPN Deportes, Hotels.com, Vincent Insurance Services, Eastbay, Blue, Website Maintenance and Design, and the NBA.

For more info about the SPL, check out their website by clicking HERE.  Shoutouts to Walt Thompson, SPL’s VP of Operations for sharing tournament info.  Stay tuned to AND1 Philippines for international features and the regular local updates by following us on Twitter (follow @and1ph) and LIKE us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/and1ph).  And that’s the 411, And Juan!

Lingerie Basketball League (2nd season) sponsored by AND1

[Shoe Session – 8.27.12] – Lingerie Basketball League (2^nd season) sponsored by AND1

Inks: FLASH aka g_sk1lls 

Images: LBL website/FB fanpage and SOS Photography FB fanpage

When one thinks about women’s basketball, images of WNBA and WNCAA immediately come to mind.  However, quite recently, a new twist to this sporting event now features sexy women clad only in ladies underwear and is now being played in California, USA.  The Lingerie Basketball League – an American basketball league now on its 2^nd season after a successful pioneering run last 2011, features 4 teams of female basketball players. 

Rocking AND1 kicks for the game in Venice Beach.

Last month, the LBL has announced that they have officially teamed up with AND1 in bringing an exciting 2012 season to its fans.  According to the press release (shared from the LBL FB fanpage – image posted below), Nina Kako, President and Founder of the LBL said “It is an honor to have the AND1 brand linked so closely with the LBL. AND1 has an amazing reputation as leaders in the basketball community, and we are confident that this partnership will create robust synergies for both organizations.”

AND1 kicks for the use of the LBL players.

The League is made up currently of 32 female athletes, spread across four teams – the LA Beauties, LA Glam, LA Divas, and LA Starlets.  Find out more about the LBL by checking out their official website at this link.

Upon checking the roster of players (http://lingeriebasketball.com/players), two Filipinas (playing for different teams) are actually part of the League.  Former Philippine Women’s National Basketball Team (Perlas Pilipinas) standout Mae Escobar is the team captain of the LA Starlets while fellow Pinay Jem Prudencio has just joined this year as part of the LA Beauties. 

The games have already started last August 24 and will run until mid-November.  Check out the schedule below to catch their games.

For more info about the LBL, check them out in Twitter (follow @LingerieBball) and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/lbleague).  Stay tuned to AND1 Philippines for international features and the regular local updates by also following us on Twitter (follow @and1ph) and LIKE us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/and1ph).  And that’s the 411, And Juan!

 Pinay Mae Escobar with a picture-perfect lefty jumpshot.

AND1 France sponsors the LNB Finals (Ligue Nationale de Basketball – French League)

[Foreign Flava – 6.30.12] – AND1 France sponsors the LNB Finals (Ligue Nationale de Basketball – French League)

Inks: FLASH aka g_sk1lls 

Images: And1 Basketball / And1 France (via email)

The top men’s basketball league in France, Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB), recently held its tournament finals last June 16, 2012 and AND1 France was one of the major sponsors of the League Finals.  The game, played in front of 14,215 spectators, featured top team Elan Chalon blast away Le Mans via a 95-76 win, and in the process, establish its best season on team history in the French Pro A play-off final in Paris.

I’ve posted some more images below of the AND1 France presence during the League Finals, and check out this link for video highlights of the game.

NBA stars and French standouts Boris Diaw and Nicolas Batum were in attendance.

To read more of the game’s recap, click HERE (courtesy of FibaEurope.com) and HERE (c/o EuroLeague.com).  I’ve also included a Youtube video below of the Chalon blow out win.

Big thanks goes to AND1 USA and AND1 France for sharing these images and info.  Stay tuned to AND1 Philippines for international features and the regular local updates by following us on Twitter (follow @and1ph) and LIKE us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/and1ph).  And that’s the 411, And Juan!