AS a child, Kiefer Ravena had a rare chance to be carried by a young Kobe Bryant during one of his visits in Manila. At the time, he didn’t know who the man was, but later on, he became his inspiration in basketball.
“Kobe was my hero and he will always be my hero,” said Ravena.
The NLEX star shared Bryant was a big part of his life from childhood to his time as pro-baller. Ravena said Bryant was also on his mind during the toughest times of his basketball career.
“Having that mindset of him na hindi natatakot and being fearless which was one of his five pillars,” said Ravena during a recent Mamba Mentality Live webcast of Nike Philippines in honor of Bryant.
“Missing the rookie shots, airball against Utah, talo sa Detroit, talo sa Celtics, all the experiences that he had. I was able to relate because I had my own personal experiences of really perfect timing na hindi ka puwedeng matakot talaga,” he added.
Ever since the moment that he was carried by Bryant, Ravena became a fan and rabid follower of the Los Angeles Lakers legend's career.
“Nag-start siya when I was four, five years, hindi ko pa nga siya actually kilala nun eh. Nanonood lang ako, pinapanood ko lang na kalaro niya ‘yung dad ko,” Ravena said of the moment he had with Bryant when he was still a kid.
“From the get-go, when I was watching him play growing up, I tried to follow his game, watch his highlights, and just really being a student of the game. More than anything else, it was his approach, his Mamba mentality that made him who he was and that made him special,” said Ravena.
Aside from his Kobe moment as a child, Ravena will also not forget Bryant’s visit to Manila in 2016, his first after retiring from basketball, because Filipinos showed all the love for him.
“’Yun na ‘yung huli niyang punta dito na post-retirement niya… When he was here, it all resonated to the crowd and to the coliseum in how he felt he has made an impact to the millions of Filipinos. Just seeing his banner up there in Araneta even until know na naglalaro kami sa PBA, just amazing. You know that he is there every time we play,” said Ravena.
Ravena was also even fortunate to pick up Bryant’s brains during his last visit to the Philippines.
“Every time Kobe was here, I would have an opportunity to talk to him every now and then probably for five to eight minutes on the court while playing, taking time, taking advantage of the opportunity.
“There was this one time that I was able to talk to him off the court. That was the time he signed my shoes and he was able to tell stories and shared to me everything I have to do to be great. It starts from there. The little things. If you do it great, people will follow,” Ravena added.
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