Fil-Am as NBA Coach

[MikeLigalig.com]

Twenty-eight-year-old Erik Jon Celino Spoelstra, the present head coach of Miami Heat, a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, USA, is a Filipino-American.

Born on November 1, 1970 in Evanston, Illinois, his father is Irish-Dutch Jon Spoelstra, a long-time NBA executive involved with the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets. His mother is former Elisa G. Celino of Barangay Mavenida in San Pablo City or a Lagunense

According to Dr. Leandro Celino Dimayuga, his San Pablo City-based cousin, Erik Spoelstra, as published in various websites, is the first Asian Filipino-American head coach in the National Basketball Association, as well as the first Asian Filipino-American head coach of any North American Professional Sports Team.

He is currently the youngest head coach in the NBA, a conference of 30 professional teams.

Website reports added that Erik grew up in Portland, Oregon, where he graduated from Jesuit High School in 1988, and from the University of Portland in 1992.

As a high school player, he was third all-time high in assists (488), tied for third in three-pointers made (156), and sixth in both three-point percentage (384) and free throw percentage (824).

He will be visiting the Philippines soon with his team for a series of exhibition games, but his hectic schedule may not make a visit to his mother’s homecity possible. (PNA)
scs/Ruben E. Taningco/rsm

[hubag bohol]

Another feather in the Pinoy cap!

[mistyeyed]

Wow, basta dugong pinoy,mo sikat jud.

[tonks001]

I've seen the interview of this coach. I think he's going to do great. Good luck to him. Dental Hayward Dentist Hayward

[indaymen50]

Way  to  go  coach!!

[bol-anon nga cebuano]

He's been the Miami Heat headcoach since last season. He's going to be in RP this coming July 27, to visit relatives and peers. He will conduct coaching clinics together with WNBA Hall of Famer Sue Wicks in Zamboanga, Davao and Manila.

[bugsay]

Go Miami....Go Dwyane Wade!!!!!

[insurectus]

Wade needs a backup

[bol-anon nga cebuano]

Even in Philippines, Spoelstra asked about Wade

MIAMI (AP)â€"Making his first trip to his mother’s native Philippines in 35 years, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra heard a familiar question.

What does Dwyane Wade’s(notes) future hold?

That’s what Spoelstra was asked Tuesday after he, Heat assistants David Fizdale and Chad Kammerer, and others held a clinic for about 200 kids from the Filipino city of Zamboanga. The kids quizzed Spoelstra on several topics, including whether Wade would stay with the Heat past next season.

Spoelstra said he thought he was “answering questions at a postgame press conference.”

Spoelstra is part of a sports envoy trip to the Philippines organized by the U.S. State Department and the NBA. Spoelstra, the NBA’s first Filipino-American coach, hasn’t been to the nation since he was 3.

[insurectus]

Aw 38 jud diay iya edad kay 28 man nakabutang sa 1st post
pero bata pa gihapon ni nga edad as head coach

[bugsay]

Lamar Odom is a big help for Wade if he will take Heat's offer and goes back to Miami.

[bol-anon nga cebuano]

that's not gonna happen anymore. odom rescinded and took back everything he said. he's now officially signed with the lakers.

[bugsay]

thanks for the update BnC.

BTW, i'm also a Bol-anon nga Cebuano....sa Mandaue.

[bol-anon nga cebuano]

silingan ra ta bai, sa lapu-lapu amoa.