Kobe Bryant's 'Mamba Mentality' continues to live on.
This mindset continues to inspire younger players like Kobe Monje of Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Migz Oczon of College of Saint Benilde, especially with their looming debut in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's basketball tournament.
Monje not only bears the same name as his NBA legend idol, but he's hoping to unleash flashes of the mamba inside him as he tried to help the Knights take a rare three-peat in their upcoming NCAA Season 98 campaign.
"Sa kanya ko rin nakuha 'yung sipag tsaka 'yung hard work. 'Yun 'yung puhunan ko para makakuha ng playing time," Monje shared to GMA News Online.
Monje has shown some of what he can bring to the table for Letran, playing quality minutes in their preseason stints in the PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup as well as in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
Though they weren't able to finish on the podium in either tourney, the future definitely looks bright for the Muralla crew with Monje coming in.
"Idol ni Daddy si Kobe. Idol ko rin kaya nung namatay siya, parang sobrang lugmok ko. Nag-break down din ako kasi parang 'di ko matanggap kasi simula bata ako, siya 'yung nilo-look up ko na basketball player," Monje shared.
The 22-year-old said he would like to contribute more to the defense, entrusting the other end to his seniors like Fran Yu, Brent Paraiso, Tommy Olivario, and Kurt Reyson.
"Ako naman, hindi puntos 'yung iniisip ko. Basta maka-depensa ako, kasi 'pag naka-depensa ka naman, darating din 'yung puntos sayo."
"Rookie pa lang naman ako kaya 'di pa naman nila ineexpect na pupuntos ako nang pupuntos kaya defense talaga."
Saint Benilde's Oczon, meanwhile, is tipped to add more offensive firepower to the Blazers' attack.
The star transferee from National University said his competitiveness is what he can offer to the Taft squad — a quality the late Lakers icon was well-known for — as they eye making the Final Four this time around after a string of heartbreaks.
He, too, was inspired by Kobe as a young player.
"Nung una, parang in denial pa pero nung nagka-pandemic, doon ko na-realize na wala na talaga siya. In a way, na-motivate niya ako this coming season sa Saint Benilde," the 6-foot guard shared.
"For me, malaki talaga 'yung influence niya sa akin, sobrang laki."
With a championship in mind, Oczon preaches team effort.
"Very competitive talaga ako as a player na ayaw magpatalo but at the end of the day, it's more of a collective effort."
—JMB, GMA News
