KOBE Bryant may have already retired, but the impact that he brings to the game of basketball continues.
Just as Kyrie Irving admitted that he went on “Mamba mentality” when he helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win their first National Basketball Association championship early this week, the legacy of Bryant lives on and he will once again make his presence felt Saturday in front of thousands of Filipino fans for his Nike Mamba Mentality Tour Manila 2016.
Bryant is set to once again share to basketball-loving Filipinos the mentality and approach that he had in his illustrious 20-year NBA career, which gave him five championships, a Most Valuable Player award and 18 All-Star recognitions.
He will start his day with a Media Conference at around lunchtime at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, where he will discuss his philosophy and approach to the game that he loves as well as his aspirations of chasing perfection through hard work, perseverance and passion in every aspect of life, on and off the court.
This will be followed by the “Mamba Mentality Night” scheduled at 4 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where his 20-year legacy will be honored.
Bryant will cap his tour tomorrow when he conducts a “Kobe Academy” basketball camp, where he will train chosen young basketball players in the country.
The former Lakers’ superstar is no stranger to Manila since this is already his fourth time to tour the country under Nike, seventh time overall, and he very well knows what to expect from his adoring Filipino fans.
But this will be the first time that Bryant will visit the country after he retired two months ago in scintillating fashion, scoring 60 points on his last game.
Bryant last visited Manila for Nike in 2011 in his Step Up or Lose Out Asian Tour. He had previous visits courtesy of Nike in 2007 and 2009 as well.