Molten unveils official ball for FIBA WC

LA Tenorio and Luis Scola get a hold of the new "Passion Wave" basketball. Dennis Acosta

By Ivan Saldajeno

TAGUIG—Presenting "The Passion Wave".

The said name is the tag for the official tournament ball of this year's FIBA World Cup.

The basketball was formally launched during the FIBA World Cup Draw Festival on Saturday at Uptown Bonifacio.

FIBA World Cup ambassadors Luis Scola and LA Tenorio got the first touch to the ball that will be used for the entire tournament from Aug. 25-Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

Molten officials present "The Passion Wave". Dennis Acosta

"People have different passions, so we express it through this ball," Molten official Nao Naritaka said

Among the unique features of the design are gold-colored hearts, which resemble the heart-themed logo of the World Cup itself.

"Gold is attractive to everyone," Naritaka simply explained the colorway.

A closer look at the new Passion Wave basketball. Dennis Acosta

Only 500 Passion Wave balls have been manufactured mainly for the World Cup itself, but Naritaka said that Molten will continue the production of the balls after the World Cup to make them available publicly.

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