
Winning moments for the One-Armed Mamba

(with reports from Gab Ferreras)
FOR the love of the game, Kathryn “Kat” Tan is doing it all.
Nicknamed the “One-Armed Mamba”, Tan is a basketball player, coach, physical fitness instructor, motivational speaker and podcast host of an online sports program rolled into one.
Why take all the hard work and do it all when one can simply stop trying and relax at the comforts of one’s home?
Why go back to the hardcourt and continue to push one’s body to the limit?
Why spend time and effort to reach out to more people and tell her stories?
Why?
“I feel like I have been put in this situation to set an example,” said Tan during a special appearance in the “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) via Zoom recently.
“After what happened to me, I know I can either stop trying or pick myself up and get going,” explained Tan during the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
“I think I made the right decision,” said Tan, a geaduate of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde.
“It is really my dream now to provide inspiration for others to see the world without limits and reach beyond those limits with courage,”Tan told editors and reporters of TOPS.
Twenty five years ago, Tan lost her left arm in a carnival accident in a school fair in November 1996.
A former member of the De La Salle Zobel high school team, Tan refused to quit and went out of her way to do something– and do it well.
“Some people feel really bad na may mga nangyayaring ganun sa buhay. But the way I see it, I used that as my motivation to keep going. I’m still here and still alive. That is something na dapat ipagpa-salamat,” claimed Tan, who also now works as a full-time graphic artist.
Now 34, Tan is a shining example to all.
Even the late great Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was left in awe when they had the opportunity to meet each other.
“I”m a die-hard Kobe Bryant fan,” said Tan, who even sports two tattoos of the well-loved NBA superstar.
“I actually got to meet him three times when he was still alive. I first met him in 1998 when I was 10 years old during his first visit here in the Philippines and the second time was in 2013”
“The last one was in 2016, which was very memorable for me. That was the last time that he was here. Yun ang retirement year niya. Nike had a basketball camp known as the “Mamba Mentality Tour.”
“Nike opened a campaign for basketball players to get to train three days, na parang naging tryouts kasi everyday may mga na-cut na players. It started with about 800 players until maging 24 players na lang on the final day dahil nga yun ang number ni Kobe,” recalled Tan.
” I was very fortunate na mapili to be one of the 24 players and get the chance to meet and learn from Kobe himself.”
“As wevknow, Kobe usually picks one player out of the 24 participants to take a three-point shot at the top of the key during his camps. And if the player makes it, no one in the team runs. But if the player misses the shot, everyone runs except for the one who shot it. Parang game-winning moment yun na nakasalalay yung panalo ng team. Everyone — high school and collegiate players — was volunteering. One of the coaches noticed me and asked me to take the shot in front of Kobe himself. I know he noticed na isa lang yung kamay ko but he challenged me to do it,” explained Tan.
“To me, it was the defining moment of my basketball career. More than half of my life , naglalaro ako. So I took the shot and thank God, it went in. And Kobe hugged me and told me repeatedly Amazing. He had this beautiful smile on him. And coming from Kobe himself, it was really a moment that I will never forget.”
Asked about her activities during the pandemic, Tan did not let it affect her plans.
“I tried to find ways and find time to stay fit, stay healthy and stay active in playing basketball.,” claimed Tan.
“Kahit dito sa bahay,I invested sa gym equipment for myself kasi nga bawal pa lumabas, bawal pa pumunta ng gyms and all.I feel I became more focused on myself, including mental health.
Kailangan talaga nating magpalakas lalo na sa sitwasyon ngayon. So I started working out, tapos maglalaro ako on my own, or mag-shooting sa court namin.”
Tan said she now shares her activities on her social media to provide inspiration to all.
“Right now, I’m very active doing webinars since online lahat ngayon. Mas maraming opportunities ngayon to share my story thru online webinars. I’m also part of the Holistic Fitness PH (Holifit) brand na fitness group. Madami kaming mga fitness coaches who can help you.”
Tan also plans to attend more basketball skill camps.
“Actually, I’m in my mid-30s pero nagkaroon ako ng time na mag-enrol to a basketball skills camp. The reason is gusto kong sumali ng liga. I just felt that I wanted to try it now that there’s an opportunity.”
Tan was understandably heart-broken when Bryant and daughter Gigi and seven other people died in a tragic helicopter accident in Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020.
“My initial reaction? I was in disbelief that it happened kasi pagdating kay Kobe, ang feeling ko he’ll live a long life,” said Tan.
“I remember that day.I was on a flight to Bacolod to do an inspirational talk to young athletes, and I was really shocked. I couldn’t believe it at first. Wala kong emotion noong time na yun. Di ako umiyak. I believe nag-sink-in na lang siya days after that incident. I was overwhelmed. Iniisip ko sa sarili ko like how can I be an inspiration, how can I do this talk and inspire these athletes while I’m feeling down. But I know Kobe. I know his Mamba Mentality.”
“Kung nandyan siya, I know sasabihin nya sa akin to push myself to do it. So that day, before I went up the stage to talk, sabi ko I want to make Kobe proud so I did it.”
“That’s Kobe. That’s the Mamba Mentality.”