Kobe Bryant shows up at the Pilot Cup

COSTA MESA — A dozen or so boys and girls nervously watched from the sideline, looking at Kobe Bryant Friday at the Daily Pilot Cup at Costa Mesa High.

The Los Angeles Lakers guard was taking in the game that had Harbor Day Elementary’s third- and fourth-grade girls’ soccer team, which his daughter plays on.

Some boys and girls who played in the Pilot Cup walked by and quickly greeted Bryant, to which he replied to some, “Hope you had a good game.”

The five-time NBA champion and 14-time NBA All-Star was watching from the sideline on the field near a baseball diamond, Precision Field.

One of those players was Angel Martinez and the other was Russell Zuniga, both third- and fourth-grade players from Sonora Elementary in Costa Mesa.

“It was good,” Martinez said of coming up close to Bryant. “I liked the shoes.”

Zuniga also enjoyed the experience.

“I thought it was pretty cool,” Zuniga said. “We were lucky.”

While he was watching the game, Bryant declined comment to the Daily Pilot, saying, “Not today.”

Wearing sunglasses, a black “LA” baseball cap, a black shirt, blue shorts and bright green Nike shoes with bright orange stripes, Bryant cheered and clapped when Harbor Day scored a goal. He did not sign autographs and everyone at the game left him alone to enjoy his daughter play.

Bryant had plenty to cheer about. Harbor Day won the game, 5-0, over St. John.