Pinoy fans set up memorial wall for Kobe at Big Dome

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2020 10:08:55 +0000

AN unidentified basketball fan writes his message on a memorial wall for American basketball superstar Kobe Bryant at the Green Gate of Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City Monday night. (Robert Requintina)

Filipino basketball fans on Monday night paid respects to basketball superstar Kobe Bryant at the Green gate of the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, where the popular American athlete appeared four times during his visits to Manila.

The fans, some of them wearing Kobe’s number 24 jersey, prayed and offered flowers hours after he died in a helicopter crash along with eight others, including his daughter, on Jan. 27.

Organized by the Los Angeles Lakers Fans of the Philippines, in coordination with Araneta City, the vigil started with a prayer at exactly 8:24 p.m. The number eight, they said, refers to Kobe’s second jersey number while number 24 was his last jersey number. Later they chanted “Kobe! Kobe!” on several occasions.

“I was shocked to learn my hero was gone at around 4 a.m. I thought it was fake news. Hindi na ako nakatulog noon,” said FJ Balad, a varsity player for Technological Institute of the Philippines, during an interview.

Balad, who has been a member of the fan club for 10 years now, said Kobe was a role model of discipline and hardwork. “He wakes up at 4 a.m. to practice and he is usually the last person to leave the basketball court.”

The student said he would never forget the first time he saw Kobe in 2016. “He stopped in front of me and I was starstruck. Ang daming security guard. I was ready to take a photo of him pero nakatingin na ang ako sa kanya.”

Fans also lined up at the Green Gate to write messages for Kobe on the memorial wall. Nearby is an area where lighted candles, flowers, and Kobe memorabilia were displayed.

The facade of the Smart Araneta Coliseum was lighted with purple and gold. The big memori
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