Ex-NBA star Marbury returns to Phl, donates 4,000 shoes

MANILA, Philippines – Stephon Marbury returned to the country to donate 4,000 pairs of shoes to underprivileged kids and finalize the distribution deal of his Starbury line, which is set for a grand launch next summer.

Marbury was at the Cuneta Astrodome in Game Two of the semifinal series between Petron Blaze and Rain or Shine Wednesday night where he turned over 300 pairs to the league for its Alagang PBA Foundation at halftime.

The rest of the shoes went to public schools, Ahon Pamilyang Lansangan Foundation and typhoon victims which he personally delivered during his brief visit.

Sheryl Reyes, Marbury’s agent in Asia told Philstar.com that the Starbury shoes will be made available in the Philippine market in March next year.

“We’ve already finalized a distribution partnership with one of the biggest companies in the country, which I don’t have the liberty to divulge yet pending the launch next summer,” Reyes said.

In an earlier interview with Philstar.com during Marbury’s first visit last June, the former NBA All Star said it is not about the money but the opportunity to help even promising to donate 10 percent of the proceeds to charity.

He even donated an unspecified amount of money to Ahon Pamilyang Lansangan foundation during his first Phl visit especially to the kids, who were in need of kidney transplant.

“I’m not here to compete with them (bigger shoe companies) but I’m here to bring quality products that are affordable for those parents who can’t buy their kids shoes that cost 150 dollars,” Marbury said.
“With that amount of money, you can buy around five pairs of my sneakers.”

It was in 2006 when Marbury launched his Starbury shoes in the US at 14.99 dollars per pair. Since migrating in China at the turn of the decade, Marbury found the perfect place to manufacture his affordable shoes in the nation widely considered to be the manufacturing capital of the sneakers sold worldwide.

Marbury will fly back to China Friday lunch to continue his basketball career after inking a fresh three-year deal with the Beijing Ducks, whom he led to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) title.

The CBA season will start next month and will end in March just in time for Marbury’s return to the country to launch his Starbury line.