THE best sports apparel and equipment under one roof.
This is what French businessman Pascal Banet and local partner, former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, offered when they opened a sports retail store Thursday evening at the Festival Mall in Alabang.
Many guests, athletes and sports enthusiasts came, lined up to get inside a sprawling outlet at the ground floor of one of Festival Mall’s many levels.
“In the Philippines, this is the first. Then, we open more stores,” said Banet after guests viewed the displays which carried around 66 famous brands, and watched as around 24 brand ambassadors were introduced.
The name of the store? GO Sport, a French sports retail giant that has many branches in Europe, and is planning to make its presence felt in the Southeast Asian region, with the Philippines having its first outlet.
Boxing icon, and senator, Manny Pacquiao was also there to cut the ceremonial ribbon that declared the store open.
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsso, who played Gregor “The Mountain,” Clegane in the fourth season of Game of Thrones also visited the sports store, rubbed elbows with Pacquiao and toured the place with his friends and girlfriend.
Singson said this is the first store in Southeast Asia, as more will be opened, adding the goods they offer will be available with their affordable prices.
“If you go to this store, everything is already here. All the brands, everything is affordable,” said Singson.
Shoes from adidas, Nike, Puma and Under Armour were on display, and so were apparel and equipment from Mizuno, New Balance and Asics.
Recreational sports activities like paddle boarding have their own line on display.
Basketball stars like RR Garcia, Jericho Cruz and Jeff Chan were among those who were presented as brand ambassadors with volleyball players Denis Lazaro, Maddie Madayag and Jerrilli Malabanan and Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz.
Joining the list are professional golfers like Lexus Keoninh and Guido Van der Valk.
The stores are laid out according to interest and caters to fitness, mountaineering, cycling and other competitive events.
There’s also a golf driving range simulator and a treadmill, where shoppers can try out the shoes they wish to buy.