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Rebel Sports happy to establish foothold in PBA, UAAP, NCAA

Source : http://www.interaksyon.com/rebel-sports-happy-to-establish-foothold-in-pba-uaap-ncaa/

Be it the PBA, the NCAA or the UAAP, Rebel Sports is making its presence felt in major basketball leagues in the country.

Rebel Sports has spent the past few years catering to the international market and for owner Joel Cu, it feels great to be back home and doing service for the basketball-loving Filipinos.

“Nagagawa nga nating mag-silbi sa mga Amerikano at Australian market natin. Bakit hindi natin magawa sa sarili nating bansa? Kaya talagang nagpursige kaming bumalik dito and do service to the Filipinos, who have great passion for basketball,” Cu said.

In the PBA, Rebel Sports has become the outfitter of the GlobalPort Batang Pier, a team led by Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle, the most explosive backcourt tandem in the league.

Rebel Sports is also starting to make its mark in the collegiate scene with its involvement with National University in the UAAP and the Lyceum of the Philippines University in the NCAA.

The NU Bulldogs are one among the dark horse teams in the UAAP while the Lyceum Pirates have become the surprise leaders in the NCAA, remaining unbeaten in 12 games.

Like any other companies, they had their birth pains as they folded temporarily in the late 1990s, but concentrated on creating customized shirts in the international market, catering to the demands in the United States and Australia.

“That’s what we’ve envisioned. We are Filipinos yet we were there serving the international market. So we made it a point to come back and become the newest Rebel in the local sporting industry by providing them high quality yet cheaper service,” added Cu.

From a five-man working crew, the company now employs 200 people.

“We’ve learned that to be able to cater to big orders, we need manpower. Now, we have around 200 dedicated people working day and night,” said Cu.

Reliability is another area wherein Rebel Sports wants to focus in.

“We don’t sleep until we finish the uniform. That’s our difference from the other makers. At one time, I even brought the uniform to US. I have a factory also in China, but our people there failed to meet the deadline, so we shipped out from China then had to rush to the US just to bring the 200 sets of football jerseys for a one day tournament and we did them here in the Philippines. Our factory is in the mountains. They live in the mountains. That’s why we’re called Rebels,” added Cu.

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Rebel Sports is beginning to make its presence felt

Source : http://bworldonline.com/rebel-sports-happy-forge-ties-teams-pba-uaap-ncaa/

AFTER making its return to Philippine sporting scene following a successful stint in the international market, Rebel Sports is beginning to make its presence felt.

The group is starting to make its foothold in major basketball leagues in the country — the PBA, the UAAP and the NCAA.

In the PBA, Rebel Sports has become the outfitter of the GlobalPort Batang Pier, a team led by Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle, the most explosive backcourt tandem in the league.

Rebel Sports is also starting to make its mark in the collegiate scene with its involvement with National University in the UAAP and the Lyceum of the Philippines University in the NCAA.

The National University Bulldogs are one among the dark horse teams in the UAAP while the Lyceum Pirates have become the surprised leaders in the NCAA, winning their first 12 games and remaining unbeaten.

For Joel Cu, owner of Rebel Sports, getting back in the Philippine sports mainstream is something he has envisioned the past few years. Like any other companies, they had their birth pains as they folded temporarily in the late 1990s, but concentrated on creating customized shirts in the international market, catering to the demands in the United States and Australia.

“That’s what we’ve envisioned. We are Filipinos yet we were there serving the international market. So we made it a point to come back and become the newest Rebel in the local sporting industry by providing them high quality yet cheaper service,” added Mr. Cu.

Team Rebel Sports started in a small scale.

From a five-man working crew, it has grown to about 200 ready to meet big orders.

“We’ve learned that to be able to cater to big orders, we need manpower. Now, we have around 200 dedicated people working day and night,” said Cu.

Reliability is another area wherein Rebel Sports wants to focus in.

“We don’t sleep until we finish the uniform. That’s our difference from the other makers. At one time, I even brought the uniform to US. I have a factory also in China, but our people there failed to meet the deadline, so we shipped out from China then had to rush to the US just to bring the 200 sets of football jerseys for a one day tournament and we did them here in the Philippines. Our factory is in the mountains. They live in the mountains. That’s why we’re called Rebels,” added Mr. Cu. — Rey Joble

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After starting small in 1998, local brand Rebel returns with a bang in stylish GlobalPort makeover

Source : http://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/special-reports/terrence-romeo-globalport-and-some-college-teams-wearing-the-only-rebel-you-can-trust

After starting small in 1998, local brand Rebel returns with a bang in stylish GlobalPort makeover

Terrence Romeo and the Batang Pier turned heads in their Governors Cup debut with a new jersey design from Team Rebel. Jaime Campos IT’S not only through his shoes that Terrence Romeo channeled his inner rebel last Friday in GlobalPort’s PBA Governors’ Cup debut against Rain or Shine.

The Batang Pier superstar, who wore a Nike pair despite being a Peak endorser, also showed that he’s a rebel – or he’s wearing one – with his jersey as the entire Batang Pier squad rocked a new kit designed by new outfitter Team Rebel Sports.

GlobalPort's trendy new black uniform is just one of Team Rebel’s ways of announcing its return to the local market after focusing on the international scene, specifically in the US and Australia, two markets that turned out to be a goldmine.

Rebel has actually been in the Philippines for nearly two decades now with its factory of 10 workers in Tanay, Rizal built in 1998. Owner Joel Cu, however, found the local market a tough nut to crack, prompting the Filipino-Chinese entrepreneur to venture into exporting.

There, in the US and Australia, Cu got his business back on track, now employing almost 200 workers who supply kits to commercial American football teams.

What makes his sport apparel brand different is that it has developed a system where customers can keep track of their orders in every step of the process through Rebel’s website, teamrebeldirect.com. Now, Rebel is bringing the same concept on home soil. Apart from the Batang Pier, some college teams have agreed to wear the up-and-coming brand, with Lyceum being one of its first partners in its return. Rebel is also set to supply the National University Bulldogs, while the company is also in talks with teams playing in the UCAA (Universities and Colleges Athletic Association).

While he’s optimistic in his brand’s Philippine return, Cu refused to get ahead of himself as he is well aware that he is competing against other emerging local outfitters, including LGR.

“We just want a pinch of the market,” Cu, a former UST commerce student and judo varsity member, insisted. “We’re always the underdog, so we have something to prove.”

But don’t be fooled by the brand’s name.

“We’re the only Rebel you can trust,” Cu beamed.

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"Rebel" underdog brand is making a Philippine comeback

Source : http://sports.abs-cbn.com/sportslifestyle/news/2017/07/11/rebel-underdog-brand-making-philippine-comeback-28479

Team Rebel Sports, owned by Pinoy businessman Joel Cu, has expressed its intention to once again try and penetrate the local scene, roughly two decades after its first go-around simply crashed and burned, for a lack of a better description.

Since that initial failed attempt, Cu, who played one UAAP season as part of UST's men's judo team, has found success in the States, supplying many lower and mid-tiered and grassroots programs with high-quality uniforms.

Specializing in American Football in the US market, Cu's Team Rebel Sports also supplies apparel for basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, and even lacrosse just to name a few.

With a solid foundation abroad in place, Cu says its time to give the local market another shot. He is Filipino after all.

“We started in the local market, 1998. Parang Botak siya, customized, rubberized lang. Then we became a ready-to-wear apparel sa Toby’s [Sports]. Ginawa namin yung factory sa Antipolo without loans and everything, we were drained out. Nag-down kami. Now, we studied export. Dahan-dahan naming inuulit yun," Cu said, telling the story of his first failed business plan 19 years ago.

“We’re coming back in the local market. Nawala kami for so many years. Nasa US kami, then nag-Australia," Cu added.

With many small-time uniform suppliers popping left and right locally, Team Rebel Sports is banking on its supposedly superior material and quality at a reasonable price to compete.

After growing abroad, Rebel now has more than enough machinery and manpower to complete even the biggest of orders.

"Difference ng Rebel sa iba, yung stitching. Yung sinulid namin. Yung ibang tailoring hindi natin sila mapipilit, maliliit lang, yung mga nabibili sa Divisoria na pang-T-Shirt lang. Pero kapag hinila mo yun putok yun, sira yun. Mabilis maputol," Cu said.

"Yung ginagamit naming sinulid, matibay. May chance nga masugat yung kamay mo eh. We have different kinds of sewing threads. Mayroon pa kaming sinulid na may stretch. We also have our own embroidery sublimation machines, madami na. It’s around 12. Yung speed namin ang ipinagmamalaki namin. You cannot compete in the international arena if you don’t have these resources," he added.

Another feature that Team Rebel Sports is proud of is its unique system that allows the consumer to track everything.

Literally track everything.

Through its website, Team Rebel clients can oversee the entire process of their respective orders, from designing the uniforms to shipping. Clients can also have real-time interaction with the designers for any applicable changes.

"Yung ibang mga nagpapagawa, naloloko. Here, nakikita nila what’s happening, nagco-comment pa sila. Doon sa system na ginawa namin, they can keep track of the uniforms na pinagawa nila," Cu said.

"We have this system in our website, kapag umorder ka sa amin, your artworks are similar to what you see on Facebook. The artist will post it, then we can make revisions once you post your comments. It’s an interactive communication. Halimbawa yung sizing mo, you already approved it, then nagbayad na, na-deposit na, nasa production na, nakikita ng client yung mock up ng uniform. Because we’re posting pictures if nasa sewing na, nasa printing na. You can comment. Kaya tuwang-tuwa yung US market. Kapag may problema, nagko-comment sila agad. You can see our system in our website, teamrebeldirect.com. Doon pa lang sa production, you can comment immediately," he added.

In trying to establish its name in the Philippines, Team Rebel Sports has been talking to numerous college programs about possible partnerships.

However, their biggest client so far are the Lyceum Pirates, the team strongly considered to be the primary challengers to the San Beda Red Lions for NCAA Season 93.

Coach Jeff Perlas, one of Cu's partners, is Topex Robinson's first assistant in Lyceum's coaching staff.

"We’ve forged a partnership with Lyceum. I told them, Rebel is here not mainly for profit. Because we already have our US and Australian market. Our purpose is to give the students a good uniform. We’ve been giving it to the Americans, why not us Filipinos. Sariling atin," Cu said.

More than anything, Team Rebel Sports' latest business venture in the Philippines is all about supplying quality local apparel to a sports-crazed nation.

Emphasis on the word local.

“Hindi kami Divisoria, but we’re not saying also na kami yung mahal. If you think of Rebel, we’re the underdogs in the market. Hindi puwedeng Divisoria lang. I’m not saying this because class ako. Yung Rebel hindi mahal yan. Practical lang yan," Cu said.

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Apparel maker Rebel Sports taking over PHL market after making mark in the US

Source : http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Sports&title=apparel-maker-rebel-sports-taking-over-phl-market-after-making-mark-in-the-us&id=146235

A SPORTS apparel who made its mark in the US is now beginning to make its presence felt in the local market.

With its “Defend the Perimeter” slogan, Team Rebel Sports is now doing some noise, ready to compete with the local brands that are now more established and have forged partnerships in sports institutions like the PBA and mainstream collegiate leagues in the country.

Joel Cu, who spent several years working in the United States and has forged partnership with an American involved in the sports apparel business, has returned in the Philippines and ready to bring in high-quality but affordable lines catering on different sports.

“We have established our foothold in the US, that’s why we have uniforms for American football, baseball, hockey and of course, basketball. I was able to enter the US market. We were able to establish a partnership in the US thru our American partner. We’re the ones who initiated it. We also have our partners in Australia,” Mr. Cu told BusinessWorld in an interview.

From basketball, volleyball, American football, hockey, baseball and everything in between the line of customize uniforms, Team Rebel is ready to provide the sports-loving Filipinos.

But Mr. Cu won’t go along way without the struggles they’ve experienced in the past.

“Late ’90s when we started the business. Unfortunately, we are not that well-funded. We started in the garage. When I started, I was only 18. Then, our business faltered. I have one partner who helped me out, who eventually in the long run, asked to be bought out. Then, we entered the RTW business, having our brands sold in Toby’s,” added Mr. Cu.

In the early stages, when the sports line is still trying to make its mark, Mr. Cu, who heads the operation of the business, even tried out being associated with celebrities in the entertainment circuit.

“Before, we tried out outfitting Salbakuta. There was a strong impact with that,” added Mr. Cu. “But later on, you realized you want to go directly to your market, which is the sporting business. I have involvement with the PBA before, with Mr. Lina’s FedEx team and then Mapua in the NCAA. With the PBA, I was doing business with Mr. Lina until his company lost its partnership with FedEx. Then, we had a previous partnership with Alaska before.”

HIGH QUALITY, BUT AFFORDABLE

The common idea for people who loves branded outfit is that they’re willing to spend more to get the best quality.

Mr. Cu’s group wants to change that landscape.

“We can say that our sports apparel is of good quality, but affordable. We want to have our market overseas, so ideally, we need to sell the outfits as well on local soil. We have a vision of having our own in the Philippines, an international brand that is being sold in the Philippines and for an affordable price. There’s a point in time you’re going to be successful abroad and you will realize you want to go back to your home soil and hope to bring that success here. We’re committed to bring the most affordable customized uniform. High quality, but affordable and dependable. Ordinary people would think that when you hear the word, Titan, their first impression would be, they cannot afford it,” said Mr. Cu.

AMBASSADORS

Slowly but surely, Team Rebel Sports is trying to attract the local market with its line of products.

They’ve identified several players who would serve as “ambassadors” of the group, among those who were tapped by Team Rebel Sports were Kyle Drexler Neypes (forward) and guard Rev Diputado of the National University, Wilson Baltazar of the Lyceum Pirates, an NCAA All-Star, Nzu Sseu of Lyceum, NCAA Season 92 Rookie of the Year, aspiring player Jonah Perlas and Matthew Aquino, center of NU Bulldogs.

Jeff Perlas, an assistant coach of Topex Robinson in Lyceum, was also selected by Team Rebel Sports along with selected players who both played in the UAAP and NCAA.

“If you noticed, Coach Jeff was included in the pictorial because we’re also coming up with line for coaches. That’s why he was part of the endorsement. Coaches will be included and not just players. We also have line for kids. We want to have a line for coaching staff, and then the players. That’s what we wanted,” said Mr. Cu. “For coaches, we want to equip them, from polo shirts, jogging pants, shorts, we will try to provide them.”

A member of the National University champion coaching staff that won the championship several years ago, Mr. Perlas is also now helping out Team Rebel Sports in penetrating the collegiate basketball circuit.

“We’re now tying up with different schools here in the Philippines, tapping us to become our official outfitter. Since, I’m into basketball, I’d like Team Rebel Sports to enter the circuit,” added Mr. Perlas.

According to Mr. Cu, he wants the ambassadors to be more actively involved in community service while also representing Team Rebel Sports to play against select teams. The concept is patterned with the And1 Street Basketball Selection and the Harlem Globetrotters, a touring team that not just play but also serve the community.

“That’s what we wanted. We’re planning to bring in young players plus imports,” said Mr. Cu. “we want to get players to be more recognized, probably potential PBA players and manage them in the future. That would be our future mission.” -- Rey Joble

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Sportswear maker Rebel Sports comes back home

Source : http://tiebreakertimes.com/tbt/sportswear-maker-rebel-sports-comes-back-home/89803

After years of serving clients in various parts of the globe, Philippine-based sportswear maker Team Rebel Sports is now ready to bring its act once more to the Philippine market, all set to provide quality apparel to sports-loving Filipinos.

“We’re coming back sa local market. Nawala kami for so many years,” said Joel Cu, owner of Team Rebel Sports. “We’ve been in the local market since 1998. Na-down kami, so we studied how to export. [Kaya] Nandiyan yung US.

“Naisip ko, bakit ‘di natin ibalik sa Pilipinas?”

The local market has seen the rise of various custom apparel makers in the past years, and the competition among them has become tight. The brand is fully aware of this, and they know that they are entering the scene as underdogs.

But despite that, Cu is confident that Rebel Sports can go head-to-head with more established competitors, that the San Juan-based brand’s quality service and innovation is what will keep them at-par with the competition.

“Ang importante kasi sa uniporme, number one is service. Yun ang meron kami. Speed. Kasi minsan, ora-orada. Sa local market very demanding talaga — ten days, seven days, gusto may uniporme na. It’s we are capable of.

“And sa tela, kung fabrics ang paguusapan, meron kaming innovation. Ang fabrics namin, kakaiba siya. Minsan kasi sa itsura, parehas eh. Pero hawakan mo, suotin mo, feel mo. Iba,” the youthful entrepreneur furthered. “We tend to develop fabrics.”

Filipino sportswear companies have proven that they can provide uniforms in sports that Filipinos adore — basketball, volleyball, and football — and have even inked deals with various squads in the collegiate, amateur, and pro ranks.

For Rebel Sports, that is the nature of their business as well. But what separates them from the competition is their mission to provide quality products for aspiring athletes, even if the company incurs a loss.

“Don’t think of Rebel as mahal. ‘Di kami mahal,” said Cu, who is an avid sports fan at heart. “Rebel is here not mainly because of profit, bec

“We’re giving it to the Americans, why not give it to Filipinos?”