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Filipino fans gather at Araneta Coliseum to remember Kobe Bryant

Filipino fans gathered on Monday night outside the Smart Araneta Coliseum to pay tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

The retired Los Angeles Lakers cager died in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California on Monday morning (Manila time) along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna

Some of the Filipino fans who paid their respects wore their Lakers jerseys and carried images of the Black Mamba while chanting "Kobe."

Some also wrote their messages for the late basketball legend on a huge tarpaulin, which served as a memento.

Flowers and candles were also offered near the memento, which became a makeshift memorial for the Filipino supporters of Bryant.

The candles were lit at exactly 8:24 p.m. to honor Bryant’s jersey numbers 8 and 24 for the Lakers. Fans also offered a prayer after lighting the candles.

The Smart Araneta Coliseum also lit up in purple to mourn his passing.

Bryant and Gianna were on their way to Thousand Oaks to coach and play a basketball game, living their dream in the sport they both loved.

Authorities said there were visibility issues as the foggy weather forced the Los Angeles Police Department to ground their own helicopter fleet.

Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa and daughters Natalia, Bianka, and Capri, who is only seven months old.

Check out some of the photos from the tribute in this gallery.

—MGP, GMA News