Iris Tolenada didn't start as a die-hard Kobe Bryant fan, but as she understood the essence of Mamba Mentality, the Capital1 setter became a different animal and still the same beast.
Kobe Bryant’s legacy will be forever remembered by his fellow athletes, even across different sports.
Arguably his biggest impact? Mamba Mentality.
A drive to play without fear, master your craft, and not only just win but dominate.
This mentality is universal among all competitive people, among which include Iris Tolenada of the Capital1 Solar Spikers.
The 33-year-old setter has impressed many since returning to the PVL after a brief stint abroad. Now, she’s tasked to lead a young Solar Spikers team—much like Kobe did back in his final years with the Lakers.
In commemoration of the Black Mamba’s iconic 81-point game from January 22, 2006, Tolenada shared her own Mamba Mentality in this special Off the Record feature, highlighting how the NBA legend’s passion for the game resonates with her as well.
(To celebrate the anniversary of Kobe's 81 point game, One Sports sought out a member of the Mamba Mentality crew in Capital1 setter Iris Tolenada)
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One Sports: Iris, how did your journey as a Kobe Bryant fan begin?
Iris Tolenada: You know, it's interesting, I might get a lot of hate for this or whatever but I didn't start appreciating Kobe's greatness until after he passed.
Just, I don't know what it was but I started really trying to understand who he was and why everyone was so affected by him and his legacy that he left and it all makes sense. I even started reading his book, 'Mamba Mentality' and
I've applied some of that to my life, so I'm a huge fan and I think honestly the Kobe shirt, I think it's a really cool shirt so it was cool that I got to buy it and wear it. When I do wear it, it's like representing that Kobe mentality.
OS: How did Kobe influence you to continue working on your game?
Iris: Kobe was just a man of dedication and just putting in work, and making other people around him better, whether their feelings were kind of hurt or not.
I try to apply that in terms of I want to keep making people better around me because if other people around me are better, I'm also gonna get better and that's what elevates the gym and the talent and skill level.
(A late-bloomer as a Kobe fan, Iris Tolenada learned to embrace the essence of Mamba Mentality as she works to be a better version of herself each day)
OS: Seeing the success that Kobe had after working countless hours at the gym, how are you trying to replicate that "Mamba Mentality" on and off the court?
Iris: As an elite athlete, especially at the higher level and especially as you age, you just figure out ways to make yourself better and also whatever you need to do to continue being better.
People usually don't understand what it takes to be elite on and off the court so I do a lot of things that people don't know about and I just keep that part of my routine intact and I make sure to be on top of it and to be responsible, and to really hold myself accountable for what I am doing.