By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
FIBA and Molten on Friday exclusively revealed the Molten BG5000, a next generation basketball that will make its debut on the biggest stage, at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China.
The BG5000 brings Molten’s range of basketballs into a new era. The Japanese manufacturer and basketball’s world governing body worked together during the last years on the new ball. The highly-valuable and crucial input of players was sought after and factored into the process. Following extensive testing, the ball received unanimously positive feedback, paving the way for it to be manufactured.
The end result is a basketball with markedly improved control and grip performance, as well as an authentic texture. The new surface texture helps give it an ideal grip, even in contact with sweat or moisture. The ball is softer than in the past and therefore easier to control in every moment of the game.
The world’s top players from the 32 best national teams will put the ball to the ultimate test when they battle in eight Chinese cities from August 31-September 15 for the right to be crowned world champions.
Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Secretary General, said: “As we count down to the FIBA Basketball World Cup, we’re excited to team up with our longstanding global partner Molten in revealing this specially developed and uniquely branded ball. It offers an improved performance level compared to past models and captures the look and feel of the World Cup by displaying the four key elements – heart, goal (basket), ball and court. We look forward to seeing the world’s best players and teams amaze us by showing what they can do with this ball when the highest stakes are on the line.
“On FIBA’s behalf, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Molten for working with us and taking into account the input of players to develop this special product. Molten basketballs made their debut at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 1982. Two years later, the Japanese brand became a partner of FIBA and for the last 35 years, we have enjoyed a tremendous partnership together.”
Kiyofumi Tamiaki, President and CEO of Molten Corporation, said: “The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 will be the perfect stage for the debut of our next generation basketball. We are pleased to provide a much-improved game ball for the most important international basketball event in the world. The new official game ball features unique technologies while maintaining its traditional and authentic look. We look forward to watching players perform at their maximum level with added confidence.
“Molten’s brand statement, ‘For the real game’, encapsulates what we hope to accomplish through our products and activities. It is our conviction that the real game happens only when impeccable balls enable players to reach their full performance and push performance to the limit.”
Over the summer, fans and followers of FIBA across its social media platforms will get the chance to win a number of Molten balls for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.
The build-up to basketball’s biggest competition continues on Saturday, when the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Draw, presented by Wanda, takes place in Shenzhen at 18:30 local time (GMT +8). The event – which sets out the path for the 32 participating teams in their journey to be crowned world champions – will be a star-studded affair headlined by global sporting icon Kobe Bryant, World Cup ambassador Yao Ming and American best-selling singer/songwriter Jason Derulo.
Source: FIBA