Miami coach to return to Philippines with NBA trophy
-A A +AThursday, July 26, 2012
MANILA -- Filipino-American Erik Spoelstra is set for another homecoming next month but this time, he will bring along the prestigious Larry O’ Brien trophy for sending Miami Heat to its second franchise championship in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Spoelstra, whose mother hails from Laguna, will be in Manila from August 2-5 to share the victory with fans through conducting a three-on-three basketball clinic for teenage boys and girls and interactive viewing party.
The NBA Trophy Tour will take place at SM North Edsa on August 4, SM Megamall on August 5 followed by SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in late afternoon.
At the SM MOA Center Stage, the NBA Finals game will be shown on the large movie screen while Spoelstra provides his personal commentary, insights, and inside information about it.
Fans will also get a chance to interact with Spoelstra and ask questions during the viewing party.
The 41-year-old Spoelstra is the first-ever head coach of Asian descent to win an NBA championship. Backed by the solid efforts of Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade and reigning MVP LeBron James, the Heat repulsed the Oklahoma City Thunder in the finals in June.
After graduating with a degree of communications at the University of Portland in 1992, “Coach Spo” worked as a video coordinator for the Heat in 1995 before moving up to the ranks and succeeding Pat Riley in 2008. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)
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