“The House of Kobe” was launched in Valenzuela City in the Philippines on Sunday before the NBA legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash on Monday morning (Manila Time).
Related: Kobe Bryant, 41, daughter Gigi, 13, dead in Calabasas helicopter crash
Representative Eric Martinez initiated “The House of Kobe,” which is also known as Karuhatan Convention Center. It is the 6th NBA-inspired convention center developed by the solon.
“Passion ko talaga ang basketball kaya laging NBA inspired yung mga convention center na ginagawa namin. Ginagadahan talaga namin para ganahan naman ang mga kabataan,” Martinez tells GMA News Online on the phone Monday morning.
Martinez grouping together with five street artists from Valenzuela started painting murals in the court in March 2019. One of the murals is of the Black Mamba Kobe Bryant.
‘The House of Kobe’ inaugurated in the Philippines day before his death
Martinez though of naming the convention center after Kobe after he saw the NBA star’s mural.
“Last week ko lang naisip yan (I just thought of it last week). He’s the greatest player of all time!” he said.
Martinez even invited Kobe to check out the convention center himself in his speech during Sunday’s inauguration.
“The moment this reaches you, Kobe, please come back to Manila. Sana makita mo naman itong (I hope you can see) convention center that was named after you,” he said.
The NBA legend Kobe Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13, were confirmed dead in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, Sunday.
Gianna or also known as Gigi, was on board the private helicopter with his father when it went down on Sunday, said representatives of the NBA star to TMZ Sports.
Authorities also reported five others are confirmed dead in the Calabasas helicopter crash.