Mistaken for Iglesias

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said the other day singer Enrique Iglesias once visited the Heat viewing room but that was 12 years ago and now he just watches the games in the stadium, often with girlfriend Anna Kournikova.

Iglesias’ father Julio, the popular Spanish balladeer, is a part owner of the Heat franchise.

During a recent STAR interview at the Hyatt Hotel, Spoelstra let out a hearty laugh when told he looks like Iglesias – Enrique not Julio. Apparently, it wasn’t the first time someone said he has a resemblance to the singer who by the way, is also half-Filipino.

Enrique’s mother is Manila socialite Isabel Preysler. Spoelstra’s mother Elisa Caridad Celino is also a Filipina. The common denominator has to be their deadly Filipino looks.

Spoelstra’s uncle Tony Celino, who lives in Los Baños, recalled the coach as a “chick boy” when he was in school. But Spoelstra, 38, has managed to stay single so far.

Asked to comment on an undersized Philippine national team aspiring to qualify for the Olympics, Spoelstra said the players should never lose hope.

“Anything can happen,” he said. “Basketball has evolved as a global game. Look at Iran – nobody expected them to be competitive in the last Olympics. What is unique about the Philippines is basketball is the No. 1 sport in the country. The US can’t even claim that about basketball. I think in the whole word, basketball is the No. 1 sport in only three countries – Serbia, Lithuania and the Philippines.”

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Spoelstra said leading the Heat to the playoffs in his debut as a head coach last campaign was memorable. He engineered the sixth biggest single-season turnaround in NBA history as Miami improved from 15-67 to 43-39.

“Our No. 1 goal was just to make the playoffs,” said Spoelstra. “We were frustrated in the playoffs with injuries and health issues. But that’s the NBA. It’s a reality you face, part of the game.”

Spoelstra recalled that starting center Jermaine O’Neal took an elbow in the head from Zaza Pachula in Game 5 of the first round playoff series against Atlanta. He suffered a concussion, sat out Game 6 and played only 42 seconds in the Game 7 clincher.

But more than Game 7, Spoelstra said letting Game 4 slip away was tough. “If we won Game 4 at home, the complexion of the series would’ve changed dramatically,” he noted. “But our players were hurting.” Slowed by back spasms, Dwyane Wade couldn’t lift the Heat to a 3-1 series lead and Atlanta won, 81-71.

Spoelstra said this coming season, there are high expectations for Miami and the competition will be more fierce in the Eastern Conference.

“There’s always pressure in the NBA,” he said. “With teams like Cleveland, Orlando, Boston and Detroit upgrading, I think you’ll notice a paradigm shift in terms of power from the West to the East.”

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Spoelstra said when he was invited to come over, he felt nervous and excited. “We’ve been trying to make this happen for a while,” he noted. “It was very emotional for me since my last visit was when I was three.”

Spoelstra said he’s proud of his Filipino heritage and all over the US, it’s a widely-known fact that he’s a Fil-Am. “I grew up living Filipino values, like sense of family and community and respect for elders,” he said. “I’m proud to be the first Filipino-American – and the first Asian-American for that matter – NBA head coach. I notice that in the San Francisco area where there is a large concentration of Filipino residents, media requests are higher than usual when the Heat comes to play.”

Spoelstra said during the week, he’s been with Filipino relatives, particularly his first cousin Hannah. Tomorrow, he will be feted by relatives in a family get-together. A cousin who lives in Singapore planed in for the celebration.

Spoelstra said in his clinic with PBA coaches at the Ynares Center the other day, he shared his experiences in the NBA and tips on how to succeed in basketball.

With underprivileged kids in Zamboanga City last Tuesday, he was inspired by their warm reception and spoke about the values of discipline, teamwork and working together for a common goal.

Postscript. Here’s a clarion call from De La Salle Sports Hall of Famer and former national football player Albert Garcia: Sign up now for the BRAFE (the late Bro. Rafael Donato) for golf tournament to be held Oct. 5 at Malarayat. Tournament fee is P2,500. The shotgun system 36 will be used. Hole-in-one prizes include a Yamaha golf cart, Chevy sedan, Nissan Sentra sedan and Nissan Grand Livina van. For details, call the De La Salle Alumni Association at tel. 524-6549 or 524-81-46.