PNG businessman saddened to learn of Kobe’s tragic death

By JACK AMI
PORT MORESBY businessman and longtime National Basketball Association (NBA) league fan Aaron Chin, who had the opportunity to meet NBA legend Kobe Bryant, said he was saddened to hear of the basketball great’s tragic death last Sunday.
Chin, who is part of the family who owns electronic equipment and supplies dealer Chin Hoi Meen, said he was lucky to have met several NBA legends in his lifetime and one of the most memorable one was with the Los Angeles Lakers super star Bryant.
“I’m not a Lakers fan but I am a Kobe Bryant fan,” Chin said.
“My photo with Kobe somehow exploded on PNG social media since Kobe had the accident.
“I think more so because of the PNG bilum there’s a connection between fans here in PNG to Bryant.
“Since it happened last Monday (PNG time) just look on any media platform, internet, TV, social media, five days after the incident people all over the world are still in disbelief.”
Chin said a stranger approached him on Thursday in Port Moresby and spoke to him about Bryant’s death and how it affected him and how he was a Lakers fan.
“Then out of nowhere he lifted up his Trukai shirt to reveal a yellow Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant jersey,” Chin said. “That really caught me by surprise and made me realise even here in our own country people are mourning the passing of Kobe.
“I received phone calls from friends to tell me about Kobe saying although they didn’t follow the NBA they knew who Kobe Bryant was, what he’d achieved and they respect who he was.
“Kobe played with one team his entire career of 20 years and won five championships and countless awards and after retirement he was still achieving off the court producing an award-winning film, writing children’s books.
“You can’t help but know who Kobe was.
“This past week surprisingly I’ve seen a number of people on the streets wearing LA Lakers T-shirts in just random places. That’s Kobe love right here in Papua New Guinea.
“I feel blessed to have met Kobe Bryant, I’m glad I got to shake his hand, look him in the eyes and tell him I appreciate him and said he should visit PNG one day while wearing a bilum with the PNG flag.”
Chin also expressed sympathy for Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant who died in a helicopter crash that claimed her father’s life as well as those of seven other people on a hillside near Calabasas, southern California, in the United States.