World Balance Scottie 1 Review

 

We have an exclusive first look at the World Balance Scottie 1. This shoe is significant in many ways, not the least of which is that it is the first signature shoe for a Filipino athlete by a Filipino brand in a long time – around a decade actually. That’s quite a feat for a basketball crazy nation like the Philippines. The brand was kind enough to let us get an early look at this historic sneaker.

Scottie Thompson is a Filipino professional basketball player for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the most popular team in the country’s basketball history. Scottie resonates with his countrymen because of the hustle and effort he puts out on the floor every night. He isn’t the tallest guy on the court, standing just 6’1”, but he outworks a lot of the big men in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), especially in crucial and clutch moments.

First Impressions

When I saw the silhouette of the sneaker, my immediate thought was that it resembled the Air Jordan 36 Low, one of the best performing sneakers that was released in 2020. The way the eyestays are placed as well as the overall shape give off those vibes. And I’m all here for it. What makes these different from the Jordan flagship is that these have an internal booty construction which should make for a more snug and secure fit. True to size is the sizing recommendation of the brand and we’ll test that when we get the shoes in hand.

The outsole looks typical, but interesting. There’s herringbone all over and it’s hard to go wrong with such a set up. There are segmented portions in red, which leaves us to wonder whether or not that is for foam pods in the midsole, firmer rubber, or just for design. However, as far as I’ve seen, World Balance outsoles tend to last quite a while, which is great for Filipinos who mainly play outdoors.

The cushion of the Scottie 1 has to be the feature I’m most excited and interested in. Scottie himself said this about it,

“Actually, 2 conference ko nang nagamit itong shoes and wala talaga ako masabi sa comfort and performance talaga.” (Translation: I’ve actually used these shoes for two conferences and I am left speechless with the comfort and performance.)

The brand is calling this foam compound air max 2021, which they say “provides superior and responsive cushioning that will help you outlast your opponents all season long and add explosiveness in every step.” We’ll have to give these a whirl once we get them on court.

There are also the lateral sway bars, which are plastic pieces that come up both lateral sides for containment, and a torsional shank plate that’ll help reduce overtwisting the foot. A standard external heel counter is also present with the words “hard work,” faith”, and “discipline” etched all over it. Scottie credits his success to those three attributes.

World Balance Scottie 1 Conclusion

Do I think these will perform well? I honestly think they will based on the tech specs provided. World Balance is on the come up as far as basketball sneakers are concerned and I’m hoping that these will propel them into the mainstream. Filipinos should be proud that we once again have a homegrown signature athlete with a local brand.