By Hanah Tabios
The tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant continues all over the world as a group of visual artists in Taguig City turned a blacktop into a massive mural for Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna who also died in a helicopter crash on Sunday in California.
A giant mural of basketball legend Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna was made by Tenement Visual Artists at Tenement Building basketball court in Taguig city as a way of honoring their idol. (MB Photo / Jansen Romero)
Less than 24 hours after the shocking news devastated the fans worldwide, hoops influencer Mike Swift and his team completed the giant artwork in the famed Tenement basketball court, depicting Bryant’s love for his daughter Gigi.
The hand-painted tribute mural was praised by social media users not only in the Philippines but also by some sports commentators in the United States.
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On his Instagram post, Swift said: “We pay tribute to the one and only. Arguably the best to ever do it! We will forever love you Kobe Bryant. We miss you and Gigi already!”
(MB Photo / Jansen Romero)
The court’s side walls were also painted with messages, most of which were quotes from Bryant who is known for his “Mamba mentality.”
“Pass by if you can, we will be painting all day, all night again. Since early, media and visitors are coming one by one. Leave a message, bring a candle, drop a verse if you are a singer or a rapper. We will continue to mourn the loss, but more important is that we make sure the legacy of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant lives in our hearts forever,” Swift added in a separate post Tuesday.
Several landmarks in the country also paid tribute to the basketball icon by lighting up their buildings with Los Angeles Lakers colors blue and gold with Bryant’s jersey numbers “8” and “24”.
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