Pinoy celebrities show their love for Kobe Bryant on his last game 

For millions of basketball fans around the world, the career of legendary NBA all-star Kobe Bryant is often a point of contention.

But for the cager's last official NBA game, fans set aside their misgivings and paid tribute to the Los Angeles Laker giant and his 20-year career.

.@Lakers fans pay emotional farewell to @kobebryant https://t.co/dxDqSmNVVJ

— GMA News (@gmanews) April 14, 2016

In the Philippines, a country considered to be basketball crazy 24/7, celebrities used their not-inconsiderable social media following to broadcast their love for The 8th Wonder of the World.

Foremost of the celebrities who paid their respect to the living legend is his namesake and aspiring NBA cager Kobe Paras.

It's an honor to be named after a living legend.
Ironically I haven't met him yet in person but hoping one day I do

Thank you @kobebryant

— Kobe™ (@Im_Not_Kobe) April 14, 2016

"It's an honor to be named after a living legend. Ironically I haven't met him yet in person but hoping one day. I do Thank you @kobebryant," Paras wrote.

His father and PBA legend Benjie Paras sent out a series of tweets before the live showing of the Black Mamba's last game. Paras was the color commentator in the local broadcast of the game between the Lakers and Jazz.

Thank You so much guys, for watching @kobebryant last game. I'm sure that we can't never forget him. #MambaDay #MambaMoments #ThankYouKobe

— Benjie Paras (@BenjieparasPPB) April 14, 2016

"Thank You so much guys, for watching @kobebryant last game. I'm sure that we can't never forget him. #MambaDay #MambaMoments #ThankYouKobe," he wrote.

Jake Ejercito, son of deposed president and now Manila mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada, repeated the hashtag #ThankYouKobe in multiple tweets expressing his affection for the cager who scored 60 points to win his retirement game.

Spot the fat kid at the 0:37 mark #ThankYouKobe

https://t.co/TbCqj1C2pZ

— Jake Ejercito (@unoemilio) April 14, 2016

One of his tweets featured him as a child with an afro-sporting Bryant during the player's courtesy call to Estrada at Malacanang in 1998.

StarStruck finalist Sarah Lahbati retweeted music superstar Kanye West's tribute t-shirt and followed it up by declaring her love and respect for Bryant.

 

"you asked for my hustle, i gave you my heart." thank you @kobebryant #mambaday

A photo posted by Sarah Lahbati (@sarahlahbati) on

Apr 13, 2016 at 7:44pm PDT

#TeamKramer patriarch and PBA champ Doug Kramer also paid his respects to Bryant, claiming it would be a long time before a player with the same talents would show up again.

 

Thankful, grateful, appreciative! Thank you @kobebryant! 2nd greatest ever to play the game (MJ still on top)! Will be awhile before we see a player of his magnitude again. ????

A photo posted by Doug Kramer (@dougkramer44) on

Apr 13, 2016 at 8:00pm PDT

"Thankful, grateful, appreciative! Thank you @kobebryant! 2nd greatest ever to play the game (MJ still on top)! Will be awhile before we see a player of his magnitude again," Kramer said.

Bryant finished his retirement match with the L.A. Lakers against the Utah Jazz with 60 points, ending the match at 101-96 in favor of the Lakers with an assist.

Unofficial shot chart for #KobesLastGame #handdrawndata pic.twitter.com/Osv53mynvD

— L.A. Times Graphics (@LATimesGraphics) April 14, 2016

The Los Angeles Times quoted Bryant, who ended his career with 18 All-Star game appearances, saying "We’ve been through our ups and we’ve been through our downs. I think the most important part is that we stayed together throughout.” — APG, GMA News