Miami Heat coach back in town to share NBA glory

MANILA -- The man who steered superstars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Miami Heat to their second championship in the National Basketball Association (NBA) is in Manila to share the victory to his fellow Filipinos.

Erik Spoelstra, whose mother is from Laguna, arrived on rainy Wednesday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)-Terminal 2 in Parañaque City.

He flew in via Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR502 from Singapore, where he conducted a series of coaching and basketball clinics from Monday to Tuesday. This is Spoelstra’s third visit to the Philippines since 2010.

While in the Philippines, Spoelstra will hold a press conference on Thursday to be followed by 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.

Spoelstra is expected to show to Filipino fans the two-foot Larry 'O Brien trophy, which is made of sterling silver and other metals with a 24-karat gold overlay.

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.

After bowing to Dallas Mavericks last year, the Heat roared back to the finals in 2012 to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. The 42-year-old Spoelstra currently holds the distinction of being the first coach of Asian heritage to win the coveted NBA plum. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)