ON January 26, 2020, a Sunday, the House of Kobe was inaugurated in Barangay Karuhatan, Valenzuela City.
It’s a first-class basketball court with shiny wooden floors, a photo gallery of Lakers greats on one side, bigger than life Kobe murals in all his kinetic glory on the other and a giant sticker of a basketball-with-a-regal-Lakers crown ensconced at center court.
It features, among others, Laker banners, Mamba-inspired handrails with the texture of the black snake’s skin, the giant jersey and cemented handprint of Los Angeles Laker Lamar Odom who had visited the country last year, and a big picture window that reveals more Kobe art on an outside wall, the Mamba with an intense gaze seemingly egging players on to give their total self to the game—the Mamba Mentality.
That Sunday, Rep. Eric Martinez of the second District of Valenzuela and a consummate basketball lover (I’ll prove that claim in a bit) said he closed his speech by “calling on the greatest Laker of all time, Kobe Bryant,” to come to this court that was built especially for him. He wanted Kobe to see the house that was named after him, that vibrated with subdued tones of purple and gold, that was for all effects and purposes a sacred Lakers space in a semi-rustic Metro Manila neighborhood.
But the very next day (Manila time), Kobe died. The date of the court’s inauguration and the day that Kobe and his daughter GiGi passed into the mists of time was the same: January 26.
“Cong. Eric,” fondly called Court-gressman by the people of Valenzuela and those who know him well, said “On Sunday we inaugurated a court. The next day it became a shrine. Kobe lives here forever.”
To be honest, The House of Kobe is not the only basketball court that Cong. Eric has put up in his district. There are five more. There is a Chicago Bulls-themed court he calls One Center as a nod to CHI’s home court, United Center. There is a Boston Celtics court with murals of Celtics greats, complete with all the 17 championship banners hanging from the rafters, plus a giant signature of Red Auerbach on the floor. It’s called Shamrock Garden. There is a court called The Rock that is dedicated to the Houston Rockets, and another one for the San Antonio Spurs. And a court called Bahay Alamat, ablaze with murals of Philippine basketball legends beginning with Caloy Loyzaga, down to Ramon Fernandez, Alvin Patrimonio and June Mar Fajardo.
There are nine districts in Valenzuela, and Cong. Eric has already built six basketball courts. Three more are in the works, one of them dedicated to the Golden State Warriors coming in March.
Why the basketball court edifice complex? To begin with, you may never get to meet anyone as passionate and as erudite about basketball as the 47-year-old congressman is. He remembers dates, names, records and basketball achievements like a walking encyclopedia. He walks the talk, too. He and Lamar Odom got into a three-point shooting contest at the same House of Kobe before it was spiffed up and inaugurated and he beat the National Basketball Association champion who was named Sixth Man of the Year in 2011.
He builds courts for the people of Valenzuela, knowing how basketball is the national pastime and that the game is able to become a unifying force, a deterrent to drugs and crime and an inspiration for many who play the game. Use of the courts is free. All that those interested to play there need to do is reserve for slots, wear basketball shoes while playing and observe proper conduct.
Why such high-end amenities for the courts he builds? “Because the less fortunate among us will never have the opportunity to play in courts like these. They would have to spend a lot to be able to do so. What I want is for ordinary folk to experience some of the privileges that only rich people can afford. Kahit sa basketball court man lang. [Even if only in basketball courts],” said the congressman who also heads the Committee of Sports and Youth Development in the House of Representatives.
But the House of Kobe is something special. “It’s the only court named after one person,” Cong, Eric said. “It is a tribute to the fiercest competitor in the game of basketball. Where can you see someone with a torn Achilles tendon stay in the game and shoot two free throws, then sink those free throws and win the game?” he recalled. (Kobe Bryant even did the unbelievable after that. He walked off the court on his own power.) “That is true Mamba Mentality.”
Cong. Eric said the Kobe Court has since taken a life of its own. Around 400 visitors come daily to see what it looks like. A low outer wall located at the entrance that was painted only with Kobe’s signature now bears messages, doodles and signatures from hundreds of fans. Candles and flowers adorn the wall. People leave shoes and Kobe memorabilia.
On Saturday, February 8, the congressman will have a pa-liga at the House of Kobe and it will start at exactly 8:24 in the morning. “During that tournament and hereafter, the numbers 8 and 24 will forever be retired in the House of Kobe. No one can wear those numbers here anymore,” Cong, Eric said.
“He died young and his life was full of meaning. The day he left was the day he was born in our country, through this court,” he continued. “The House of Kobe isn’t done yet. It is still evolving. Come back in a month and there will be new additions here.”
The iconic image of GiGi Bryant lovingly looking up at her father already dominates the staircase with the Black Mamba handrails. Three days ago, it wasn’t there.