Black Mamba make it look Real

Kobe Bryant led his team Black Mamba as they battled the legends of Real Madrid basketball team. — KT photos by Juidin Bernarrd

Basketball superstar Kobe led the team warm-up and coaching his team of celebrity players called ‘Team Black Mamba’ as they battled the legends of the Real Madrid basketball outfit. There was no ‘Kobe Intensity’ of any kind as the legend sat glued at one end of the players bench throughout the game.

Kelly Errin Herndon, American football star and rap star DeAndre Cortez Way, better known as ‘Soulja Boy’, were among the celebrity team players on Friday.

The Celebrity Game, held in support of diabetes awareness as part of the Kobe Bryant Health and Fitness Weekend brought the best out of the stars who went all out during their short visits to the court.

For their part, the Real Madrid basketball legends were more than accommodating when it came to mixing subtle skills with gallery entertainment. Shooting guards Beiran, Arlauckas, Indio Diaz, Antunez, playmaker JJ Llorente, and point guard Itturicuga boosted the Spaniard side with superb ball skills.

The line-up of players for Kobe’s team included top radio and TV personalities, executives, current UAE players and Mo from Detroit who was outstanding. Surprisingly there were no Filipino players from the active community leagues in the UAE in the Mamba squad.

Olympian Juan Antonio Corbalan and Rafael Rullan, president, Real Madrid basketball legends, were the coach and assistant coach of the visiting side.