CHICAGO – Fil-Am Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said he was honored by the citation given by the Philippine Congress after becoming the first Asian American coach to win the NBA championship recently.
In an email, Tim Donovan, vice president for sports media of Miami Heat, quoted Spoelstra as saying: “I’ve truly had fulfilling trips the last three years working with Filipino families and youth during my off-season visits to the Philippines. It is so rewarding to be able to give back through the game of basketball that has given so much to me.”
Three days after the Heat beat the Oklahoma Thunder for the NBA crown and Spoelstra’s first championship, the Philippine House of Representatives cited Spoelstra as the “first coach with a Filipino lineage to win an NBA championship.”
Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez Jr. filed House Resolution 2515 for recognizing Spoelstra’s roots from the Philippines. Spoelstra’s mother, Elisa Celino, hails from San Pablo City.
“The House of Representatives has traditionally paid tribute to outstanding Filipino achievers who have showcased their knowledge and talent in the international stage. Coach Erik Spoelstra’s pride with his Filipino heritage is evident with his visits in the Philippines and his statements in the public,” said Golez.
“Spoelstra is one proud Filipino; you can see this with his actions and statements. He has visited the Philippines several times and even proudly proclaims his admiration with fellow Filipino achiever, Rep. Manny Pacquiao. The entire country should be thankful and honored with his achievements,” he added.
Even after being informed of reports that Pacquiao could be rooting for Heat’s rival’s Boston Celtics, Spoelstra still kept the faith and didn’t mince words when he told Miami Heat fans after winnng the NBA title that he was drawing “lots of analogies” from boxing when he said: “Everybody knows I am a big Manny Pacquiao fan. There are quite a lot of comparisons that our guys can relate.”
Spoelstra has always counted Filipinos among the legions of his fans. – Contributor Joseph Lariosa