Fil-Am coach who died with Kobe had 'good friendship' with late NBA star

Filipino-American basketball coach Christina Mauser had a "good friendship" with NBA star Kobe Bryant prior to their deaths in a fiery helicopter crash last January 26 in California, according to her brother.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Jay Morash said Kobe hired his sister to teach defense to the Girls' Mamba Basketball Team where the NBA star's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was a member.

"My sister started coaching over there, started coaching Kobe's daughter Gianna and, once that happened, Kobe got to hire my sister and bring her on as an assistant coach for the Girls' Mamba Basketball Team because of her great coaching abilities and the fact that she was such a great defensive mind," Morash told GMA News.

Gianna and six other persons were also killed in the helicopter crash

Morash said he never got the chance to meet Kobe but believes the NBA legend and his sister shared a "great relationship" and a "good friendship."

"Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to meet him, but it sounded like my sister and him had a great relationship, a good friendship and she was a good mentor to [Gianna]," he said.

"I'm so proud of my sister," Morash added, looking back at Christina's achievements.

"I'm so proud of her and, when I see her on the news, she's been all over the world. Everywhere. Newspapers, magazines, TVs. It's been incredible to see all that."

Morash said Kobe's widow, Vanessa, has gotten in touch with his family as they grieve each other's losses.

"I don't really know where to begin what she's feeling. I lost a sister and she lost a husband and a daughter on the same day, so I can only imagine what's going on in her mind and how she's grieving through it day to day," said Morash.

"But I know that our family has been in touch with her, and she sends her love and our love is reciprocated right back with the Bryant family," he added.

"We know that theyre hurting and we hurt along right there with them." —KBK, GMA News