Spoelstra due here for NBA Fit second edition

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, an NBA Fit team member and NBA Fit Ambassador to the Philippines, will arrive in Manila on Aug. 1 with his Heat coaching staff to lead a special NBA-style basketball camp for elite athletes of the Energen Philippine Under-16 national team.

Spoelstra, who steered the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals before losing to the eventual champions Dallas Mavericks, will conduct coaching clinic and training program for the Filipino kids for the second straight year.

The two-week program is aimed at further educating Filipino cagers on the physical, mental and emotional benefits of a healthy living as well as motivating and inspiring kids and adults to live a healthier lifestyle through a variety of events and activities.

Spoelstra will be assisted by other US-based coaches and trainers Dave Fizdale, assistant coach of the Miami Heat, local health, fitness and wellness experts, as well as celebrity athletes.

Spoelstra’s arrival is coming on the heels of the Ultimate All-Star weekend which featured NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Derek Fisher. 

NBA Fit is the league’s global comprehensive health and wellness program that encourages physical activity and healthy living for children and families. It is fully endorsed by the Department of Health and supported by Energen, Gatorade and Air21.

The program actually kicked off with a school tour around Metro Manila last July 25 and will culminate on Aug. 3.

Don Bosco Technical College of Mandaluyong and Lyceum of the Philippines were the first two schools to experience the NBA’s high-energy outreach campaign in this year’s new and expanded NBA Fit program last Monday.

The scheduled tour yesterday at FEU-FERN and Notre Dame of Greater Manila and today’s tour at Rizal Technological University and Pasig Catholic College were cancelled due to the suspension of classes caused by Typhoon Juaning.