Valenzuela City has been the hotbed for NBA players-inspired courts over the past year.
Last Sunday, the city opened its latest one that paid tribute to Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant.
Photo by Resty Castro
Located in Karuhatan, the gym is a perfect haven for Lakers fans that has Kobe’s Nike signature logo on center-court.
On one end, two murals of the one-time NBA Most Valuable Player was painted while on the other, 10 other Laker greats were on the walls — including Bryant’s partner during his first few years in the league in Shaquille O’Neal.
Photo by Resty Castro
The inauguration led by District II Representative Eric Martinez though turned out as the city’s final tribute to Kobe as he passed away early Monday morning (Manila time). Kobe and his daughter Gigi, together with seven other passengers, were killed in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
“District II Rep. Eric Martinez led the inauguration of this new Lakers and #KobeBryant-inspired basketball court located in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City yesterday, a day before we woke up to news of the helicopter crash which claimed the life of the NBA Legend and eight other people, including his daughter, Gianna,” the city’s official Facebook page read.
“Rest in peace, Kobe.”
One of Bryant’s closest friends in Lamar Odom was able to visit the place a year ago, leaving a handprint as one of the memorabilia for the gymnasium.
And the city plans to open the doors of “House of Kobe” to not just Valenzuelans but to every basketball fan out there who wants to pay tribute to the global icon.
