Basketball lost a great hero, sportsman – ex-PBA chair Romero

Former Philippine Basketball Association chairman now Deputy Speaker Michael Romero on Monday mourned the death of American basketball legend Kobe Bryant.

"I join Filipino basketball fans everywhere and the global basketball community in mourning the sudden, tragic loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna," Romero said in a statement.

Romero recalled Kobe's visit to the Philippines where he was "adored by millions of Filipinos, including the Batang Pier players and coaching staff, and the Filipino-American community in Los Angeles and all over the United States."

The lawmaker is the owner of the NorthPort Batang Pier team.

"After his retirement from basketball, he (Kobe) devoted much of his time to various charitable causes, including players' and coaches' welfare," Romero added. "Basketball lost a great hero, sportsman, and gentleman today."

Kobe and Gianna died on Sunday (US time) in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.

Bryant rose to prominence as an 18-year-old rookie in 1996 and played 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers, 18 of them as an all-star, and winning five NBA championships.

He also won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the US team in 2008 and 2012.

Bryant retired from professional basketball in 2016. — DVM, GMA News