Kobe flies in today to endorse Lenovo

MANILA, Philippines - Basketball frenzy in Manila goes on as LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant flies in today for another Philippine gig, becoming the latest in a long line of NBA greats to visit the hoops-crazy nation in the pre-season.

Bryant, a frequent Philippine visitor, is in town once more, this time to pitch for Lenovo Mobile’s smartphones and the company’s “Walang Iwanan” campaign.

“The Black Mamba” is set to mingle with Filipino fans in a visit to the Lenovo sales exhibit at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium at 10:30 a.m. According to Lenovo Mobile Philippines, the event is open to all and the first 200 to show their Lenovo phones during the event will get special access to the VIP area.

The 2008 NBA MVP is also slated to meet the press mid-day and then give an inspirational talk to a limited audience in the afternoon to cap this brief visit.

Bryant is coming over in his capacity as endorser for Lenovo’s mobile smartphones. His first commercial for the brand, specially made for the Philippine market, was unveiled during the last NBA playoffs.

This will be Bryant’s sixth time to drop by Manila, the last being a pair of star-studded exhibition games along with the likes of Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, and James Harden during the lockout period of 2011.

Bryant’s visit continues a beehive of activities for the NBA’s local fans, coming on the heels of tours by Miami Heat superstar LeBron James (for Nike) and Harden of the Houston Rockets and Eric Gordon of New Orleans Pelicans (for NBA 3x) over the past two months.

Next month, it will be the turn of Chicago Bull’s star Rose to arrive for his D-Rose Tour for adidas. In October, Harden will return along with the rest of the Rockets, including Asian sensation Jeremy Lin and new teammate Dwight Howard, to face off with the Paul George-led Indiana Pacers in the first-ever NBA pre-season game in the Phl at the Mall of Asia Arena.