Heat coach Erik Spoelstra holds NBA Fit Development Camp

MANILA, Philippines -- The Energen Philippine Under-16 National Team got a much needed boost in their preparation for the FIBA-Asia Under-16 Championships after joining the NBA Fit Development Camp at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

The PHL Under-16 team will be competing in the SEABA Under-16 Championship in September in Jakarta where they are expected to get one of the two slots available for the FIBA Asia Junior Men’s Championship set in October in Vietnam.

Spoelstra shared his training regimen with the team and also held a coaching clinic participated by 400 coaches from grade schools, colleges and the PBA.

Energen Under-16 National Team coach Olsen Racela joined the coaching clinic also attended by prominent coaches led by PBA grandslam coaches Alaska coach Tim Cone and Norman Black, who is now calling the shots for the four-peat seeking Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP.

Coach Spoelstra teamed up with his sister Monica and his assistant coaches Dave Fizdale, Chad Kammerer and NBA Asia Head of Basketball Operations Jama Mahlalaela in the NBA Fit Celebrity Challenge but they ended up third behind the team of PBA analyst Jason Webb, celebrities Bobby Yan, Jon Hall, Paul Jake, Joseph Marco and 2011 Bb. Pilipinas-International Dianne Necio, which won first place. 

In the media category, the team of sportcasters Mico Halili, Jinno Rufino, Chiqui Reyes, TJ Manotoc and Riki Flores won the challenge while Alaska team won in the corporate partners category.

The NBA Fit Tour in cooperation with the Department of Health will go to Mall of Asia this weekend while the NBA Fit Run is slated Sunday morning at The Fort.