From Spoelstra's Pinoy first cousin

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s first cousin Dr. Andy Celino Dimayuga sent an e-mail the other day from San Pablo City to relate how the celebrated Fil-Am was overwhelmed by the reception he got during his recent visit to his mother Elisa Caridad Celino’s hometown.

Dr. Dimayuga’s late mother Fe, who passed away in 1989, was the sister of Spoelstra’s mother. He is one of Spoelstra’s 13 first cousins on his mother’s side.

Spoelstra’s mother, 69, earned a journalism degree at the University of the Philippines in 1964. While in school, she was introduced by an American dormmate to an American tourist who happened to be in Manila. The tourist was Jon Spoelstra who is of Irish-Dutch descent, and they fell in love. After graduation, Spoelstra’s mother, fondly called Baling, taught at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City.

Jon went back to the US and kept in contact with Baling. In 1966, Baling went to the US, reconnected with the love-struck tourist and they got married. Their two children are Erik and Monica.

Dr. Dimayuga was introduced to me by Dr. Gabriel (Jovy) Eala, chief executive officer of the San Pablo Colleges Medical Center and brother of SBP executive director Noli two years ago.

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Here’s the e-mail from Dr. Dimayuga and his wife Cynthia:

“Amid the squeals of an adoring crowd, Erik returned to his mother’s hometown. He came back after 36 years and was overwhelmed by the love of kababayans.

“Erik, Miami assistant coach David Fizdale and the NBA Fit and NBA Asia teams arrived at the San Pablo Colleges at around 10 a.m. They were welcomed by Noli Eala, San Pablo Vice Mayor Angie Dy and various school officials including Dr. Quintin Eala and his wife Prof. Rita Eala and their daughters Prof. Ma. Cielito Eala and Prof. Ma. Socorro Eala.

“At the press conference, Erik expressed how ‘humbled’ he was by the unexpected warmth with which he and his group were received. And yes, he believed it is perfectly possible to one day, find a Filipino playing in the NBA.

“After a brief presentation of plaques of appreciation, the much-awaited basketball clinic began. The coaches delighted the crowd by not starting the drills until a boy in a Celtics jersey was given a chance to change into the ‘NBA Cares’ shirt. Basic basketball drills were taught to the eager assembly of about 60 young boys from the school.

“Next stop for the group was San Pablo Colleges Medical Center where they were received by Dr. Jovy and Prof. Rosario Eala-Cruz. Erik distributed NBA souvenir items to the participants of the Pediatric Feeding Program and formally opened the Pediatrics Ward which will include beds for indigent cleft palate patients in line with the hospital’s outreach and corporate social responsibility programs. As the visit to the hospital concluded Erik’s ‘official’ NBA duties for the day, the rest of the time was spent for personal activities with his Filipino relatives in Laguna.

“He proceeded to Barangay San Crispin, also in San Pablo City, where Erik planted a coconut tree in the family farm. He was now among relatives, including his uncles Tony and Dr. Cecilio Celino and some cousins. Uncle Tony made Erik ‘smell the air’ and ‘feel the breeze’ of his Filipino heritage. Later, Erik said, ‘I felt different.’

“His last stop for the day was at his Uncle Tony’s home in Los Baños. A festive ambiance greeted Erik and his NBA group where even more relatives and friends welcomed him. Another son of San Pablo City and a close family friend, Supreme Court Justice Arturo Brion, expressed most everyone’s thoughts when he spoke of how proud he was that Erik, a fellow Filipino, has achieved so much.

“Dave (Fizdale) related to the crowd how Erik invited him back to the Miami Heat and how special it was to him that they have shared a long and close friendship. Such was his appreciation for all Filipinos that he teasingly referred to himself as Fizipino.

“Uncle Tony presented a wood carving he made especially for Erik using materials salvaged from the old house of Erik’s great grandparents. All the outpouring of affection nearly brought tears to Erik’s eyes and he admitted to being emotional about the entire visit. Yet there was still enough time for fun and food and for Erik to accommodate the seemingly endless requests for autographs and photos from his well-wishers. Even as the NBA TV crew kept filming into the night, it was for Erik and his staff a much deserved break and relaxation – something they had looked forward to after a week of grueling work, clinics, personal appearances and promotional events.”

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I can attest to Spoelstra’s sincerity. As I was “immobilized” by my fractured forearm, I missed the press conference, one-on-one availability and Araneta Coliseum owner Jorge Araneta’s private lunch with Spoelstra. But the day before the San Pablo trip, I made sure of tracking him down.

I went to the Marriott Hotel at 6 p.m., tipped off by NBA Asia’s Carlo Singson to stay close as Spoelstra would wrap up an interview with NBA TV shortly. I sat with Carlo at the Marriott coffee shop when Spoelstra walked by. He took a break from the interview. Spoelstra remembered me as the writer who broke the story about his Filipino lineage during the 2006 NBA Finals between Miami and Dallas. He promised to sit down with me after the NBA TV shoot.