Kobe Bryant: PHL is home away from home

"Mabuhay!" This was how NBA superstar Kobe Bryant greeted the media that packed his press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Manila Peninsula in Makati. And with the NBA lockout, the 13-time NBA All-Star seems eager to get back to his winning ways after the Los Angeles Lakers failed to clinch a third straight crown. "Payback. They made me suffer. They're gonna pay," he joked on being swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs. The NBA locked out its players for the fourth time in league history after failing to agree on a new labor deal. The five-time NBA champion is in Manila, his third trip to the Philippines, to start his five-city Asian tour where he will meet fans and will hold various basketball clinics. Bryant, one of the most famous sports figures in history, revealed his candid side when he answered questions of selected members of the media. Asked what he still wanted to achieve after his phenomenal basketball legacy, he says skydive. After the media laughed, he stressed, “No really, I want to skydive." Bryant also shared that the most challenging and fun game for him was Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. The secret to being a basketball legend Bryant’s tour was themed “Take Every Advantage" and he said that one thing that the Filipino youth should take advantage of is their innate ability to play basketball. When asked about his success, the two-time Finals MVP said: "There's no secret or magic to it. It's just practice, practice, practice." It's this kind of dedication to the game that Bryant continues to promote in this visit to Asia. After his press conference, he headed to a Gawad Kalinga community in Taguig to hold a short clinic with youth from the area. Aside from the three-point shootout among the kids, Bryant also made them do pushups and sit-ups – drills he used to do ever since he was a kid himself. The community basketball court, which he and Nike refurbished, was painted yellow and purple in homage to the Los Angeles Lakers. “Home away from home" On his third visit here, Bryant says Manila is his “home away from home," referring to the hospitality and enthusiasm of the Filipino people. "The Philippines is a basketball crazy nation so yung energy na 'yun he feels that every time he comes here. Nalalaman niyang he gets to inspire and motivate the Filipino youth," said Mae Dichupa, Nike Philippines' country marketing manager. Bryant also picked reigning pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao to beat undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr. if ever the highly-anticipated fight pushes through next year. "Manny's my good friend. I love him. So I'm betting on him," said Bryant on his fellow Nike endorser. He also said that while he hasn’t been invited yet to Pilipinas-Smart Gilas’ scheduled exhibition game with NBA superstars such as Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, he is open to it if his schedule allows. Bryant, who mentioned that he wants to try the Filipino delicacy "adobo", will also have stops in South Korea and China.- JVP/OMG, GMA News