The AE 2 ‘Magpakitang Gilas’ Is Built for Filipino Hoopers

Adidas has unveiled the Anthony Edwards 2 Magpakitang Gilas, a Philippines-exclusive colorway of Edwards’ second signature shoe.

More than just a local release with familiar colors, the pair is positioned as a tribute to Filipino basketball culture: the barangay courts, the packed leagues, the pride of representing your people, and the kind of game that is fast, expressive, and personal.

The shoe was designed by Filipino designer Melvin Rodas, who built the colorway around the spirit of bayanihan, Gilas Pilipinas, and the way basketball is lived across the country.

In the Philippines, the game has always been more than a sport. It is part competition, part community gathering, part identity.

That idea sits at the center of the AE 2 “Magpakitang Gilas.”

The most noticeable detail is the blue gradient upper, which moves from lighter tones into deeper shades across the shoe. According to adidas, the shift represents bayanihan, or the collective effort of a community moving forward together. It also gives the pair a visual rhythm that feels different from a standard flag-inspired colorway. Instead of simply placing national colors on a basketball shoe, the design uses those colors to tell a story.

The Philippine flag references are there, but they are not overdone. A cool red sockliner brings in a modern take on the flag’s red, while lime yellow stitching across the tongue and upper reimagines the sun’s rays with a more current, energetic feel. The result is a shoe that clearly speaks to the Philippines without looking like a costume version of national pride.

Some of the strongest local touches are found in the smaller details. The inner tongues carry split messages: “Magpakitang Gilas” on the left shoe and “Shine for the Squad” on the right. The lace tips also feature “Pilipinas” and “Basketball” callouts, a subtle nod to the country’s deep connection with the game. Across the upper, a custom debossed 3-stripe weave pattern brings Filipino-inspired texture into adidas’ signature design language.

For Rodas, the project was about representing a basketball community.

“I wanted the design to reflect what basketball means to Filipinos: pride, teamwork, and bayanihan,” Rodas said. “The idea was to create something built by many and worn with pride.”

The performance setup stays in line with what adidas has built around Edwards’ signature line. The AE 2 “Magpakitang Gilas” features a Lightstrike midsole for speed and responsiveness, Boost cushioning for impact protection and comfort, and a secure fit meant for quick cuts, sudden changes of direction, and explosive moves.

Filipino basketball is often played in tight spaces, at a quick pace, and with plenty of improvisation. From outdoor courts to competitive leagues, the game here rewards players who can change speed, create off instinct, and bring personality into every possession. adidas is framing the shoe around that style of play.

The release also continues adidas’ connection with Philippine basketball through its role as the official outfitter of Gilas Pilipinas and its partnership with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

In that sense, the AE 2 “Magpakitang Gilas” is not just another regional colorway, but also a product tied directly to the country’s national basketball identity.

The adidas Anthony Edwards 2 “Magpakitang Gilas” releases June 26 for PHP 8,000 through adidas Philippines and select adidas stores nationwide.