Spoelstra first Pinoy NBA head coach
Eric Celino Spoelstra, is the first ever Filipino-American head
coach to call the shots for an NBA team. The 2006 NBA Champions Miami
Heat chose the 37-year-old to replace outgoing coach Pat Riley.
Spoelstra who traces his roots to San Pablo, Laguna is the first
mentor with Filipino roots and youngest to ever coach in the league.
“I believe Erik Spoelstra is one of the most talented young coaches
in a long time,” Riley, who steered the Heat to the NBA crown in 2006,
told a news conference.
Spoelstra, son of Irish-Dutch Jon Spoelstra, a long-time NBA
executive involved with the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and
New Jersey Nets, said he’s proud of his Filipino roots even as he
previously said he regretted declining an offer to play in the PBA.
Born in Portland, Spoelstra, whose mother Fe Celino is from San Pablo, Laguna, has been to the Philippines only once.
“I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve visited the Philippines only when I
was three years old,” said Spoelstra. “I’m definitely planning to go
again. I have lots of relatives who live just outside Manila. I’m
hoping that someday soon, I’ll be able to visit and maybe, do some
coaching clinics so I can share whatever I know about basketball.” Continue reading...
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