{"id":316475,"date":"2020-01-28T06:02:57","date_gmt":"2020-01-27T20:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=316475"},"modified":"2020-01-28T06:02:57","modified_gmt":"2020-01-27T20:02:57","slug":"saipan-also-mourns-lakers-great-kobe-bryants-passing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/saipan-also-mourns-lakers-great-kobe-bryants-passing\/","title":{"rendered":"Saipan also mourns Lakers great Kobe Bryant\u2019s passing"},"content":{"rendered":"

The basketball world woke up yesterday with the tragic news of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant\u2019s untimely passing after the helicopter he was onboard crashed in a hillside in Calabasas, California. In the chopper with Bryant was his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others. All died in the helicopter crash.<\/p>\n

More than 9,000 kilometers away on Saipan, hoop fans took to social media to express their feelings of loss and grieve in their own way the passing of the 41-year-old five-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP. There were callbacks to his 81-point scoring binge against the Toronto Raptors, his love-hate relationship with Shaquille O\u2019Neal, his championship-or-bust mantra after Shaq was shipped to Miami, there were even some who shared his Oscar-winning \u201cDear Basketball\u201d animated short film, and his 60-point final game before retirement at the Staples Center.<\/p>\n

Almost everyone also alluded to Bryant\u2019s dogged work ethic and discipline to rise above challenges, a philosophy that soon became known as Mamba Mentality. But what\u2019s really heartbreaking is Bryant died a short three years after retirement, at a time when he was just starting to enjoy family life with his lovely wife Vanessa and three daughters Bianka, Gianna, Natalia, and Capri. He even coached Gianna, affectionately called Gigi, in her high school basketball team and were flying to her game when tragedy struck. Gianna herself was a prodigy in basketball and was thought to be the next coming of the Black Mamba in the WNBA before her life too was cut short.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Clipper coach Doc Rivers eloquently sums up what everyone felt following Bryant\u2019s tragic demise that \u201cWe\u2019re all Lakers today.\u201d Below are some thoughts of Bryant\u2019s local fans after his passing:<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cMan, I\u2019m just still in shock. He\u2019s not only my idol in basketball but I also look up to him for his perspective in life. In many ways he was my mentor. His mottos was always no excuse in life and you work hard for what you want. I\u2019m just so sad that he passed away at such a young age and to top it off, his daughter also passed away. As a father that added in the pain.\u201d
\n\u2014James Lee<\/strong>
\nHoopaholics founder<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Del Rosario<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

His dedication, discipline, and relentless effort to become a better man will always remain with me. A true life icon. We will never hear his Hall of Fame speech. The legacy Kobe Bryant leaves behind will always be remembered and celebrated.
\n\u2014Norman Del Rosario<\/strong>
\nMP United technical director<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Angeles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cJust in shock that someone so iconic is gone too soon. A legend that will never be forgotten.\u201d
\n\u2014Raymond Angeles<\/strong>
\nFormer CNMI national bowler<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Duenas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really sad now! Kobe in my books is second to MJ ! I grew up watching Kobe and I like to say that he is my idol! Kobe you will never be forgotten!
\n\u2014Matthew Duenas<\/strong>
\nShirley\u2019s Coffee Shop player<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Ada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cFeel horrible for their family not only losing a husband and a father but a sister\/daughter. Doing grocery shopping now and everyone in Hawaii seems to be talking about it. Random people in the elevator and store clerks all saying \u2018hey bro, you hear about Kobe…\u2019 very sad.\u201d
\n\u2014Oscar Ada
\nFormer CNMI national basketball player<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Rivera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Waking up to this tragic news I was so shocked. Very sad I was hoping it was fake news. As a Celtics fan he was a top opponent you always look forward to watching. As sports fan and NBA fanatic in general, my heart is simply broken today a day after the NBA world and Lakerland celebrated Lebron\u2019s passing Kobe at third in the all-time scoring list. Sad, sad day for all of the sports world.
\n\u2014Charlie Rivera<\/strong>
\nNMPASI board member<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Bautista<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cKobe revolutionized the game of basketball with his offensive skill set and his legendary Mamba Mentality. He was the reason why I wore the No. 8 back in high school when I played for Mount Carmel. He was the reason why I love the game of basketball because he treated it more than just a game. By his sheer example alone, he taught me about work ethic, perseverance, and greatness in one\u2019s craft and how applicable those three values are in life. My favorite memories of him include Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, when he won his fifth and final championship in LA against the Celtics and his final game, where he scored 60 points in another one of his trademark clutch performances\u2014the perfect ending to an amazing career. I just wished I could have heard his Hall of Fame speech to gain some additional inspiration about basketball and on life. The impact he had on me and on the sports world is profound and will be forever remembered.\u201d
\n\u2014Kevin Bautista<\/strong>
\nGovernor\u2019s Office spokesperson<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Zapata<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Speechless\u2026Unreal! The tragic news just doesn\u2019t want to sink in yet… it\u2019s such a shock! I wouldn\u2019t have believed it until I watched it on CNN today.
\n\u2014Amor Zapata<\/strong>
\nIT&E masters player<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Albert<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sad to see the passing of one of the best ever to play the game of basketball. He inspired me and for sure millions to work hard, stay determined, focus, and strive for your goals. The Mamba Mentality he brought to the game was not just for basketball but for life in general! To be the greatest you have to think and work to be one! Kobe Bryant will forever be an icon and true legend.
\n\u2014Clint Albert<\/strong>
\nEats Easy playing coach<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Babauta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cOne of the greatest. The basketball world lost one of its greatest. I\u2019m still in shock. Condolences to the Bryant family. Just wow. And only 41.
\n\u2014Mike Babauta<\/strong>
\nSaipan World Resort Sales & Marketing manager<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Pelisamen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cDevastated I can\u2019t even believe it.\u201d
\n\u2014Freddie Pelisamen<\/strong>
\nFormer CNMI basketball player<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Blanco<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cTragic. I am pretty shocked. Not the kind of news you want to wake up to. All the more heartbreaking knowing that his daughter also passed away in the crash.\u201d
\n\u2014John Blanco<\/strong>
\nCommonwealth Football League Association chairman<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"
Cosino<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI was just shocked and surprised when I heard of Kobe\u2019s passing this morning.\u201d
\n\u2014Ed Cosino<\/strong>
\nFormer semi-professional basketball player in the Philippines.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cTragic to hear this morning. He\u2019s the guy that a lot in our generation look up to and affect a lot of people\u2019s lives and how they played because of how he plays basketball. I always tell our boys that life can be gone in a blink of an eye. You don\u2019t know your day. If the Lord calls you home, then it\u2019s time for you to go. It\u2019s really sad. Kobe, he\u2019s a legend and he will forever stay a legend in our hearts. The love for basketball brings us all together. It doesn\u2019t matter if you live in the United States or a tiny island like Saipan. I taught many of my players his moves. It\u2019s just really sad and heart-breaking to hear this.\u201d
\n\u2014Joe Diaz<\/strong>
\nSaipan Rollers head coach<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The basketball world woke up yesterday with the tragic news of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[310,1502,63],"class_list":["post-316475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports","tag-basketball","tag-nmpasi","tag-philippines"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316475"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316475\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}