With their historic season drawing to a close, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is now looking forward to getting back into coaching again for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup.
In an exit interview from the 2022-23 campaign, Spoelstra stated that he is really humbled to be part of Steve Kerr’s USA coaching staff, but also excited to feel the Filipino atmosphere again.
“I am excited about it. It is an absolute honor to be a part of the USA program. I never thought I would have any opportunity to be a part of it.” He said.
And to be also in Manila, [it] It’s just going to be a great opportunity and I’m really looking forward to seeing the family there.”
This event is really special for Spoelstra not only from the fact that this will become his international coaching debut, but it will also serve as an important bridge for him to look back and reconnect with his Filipino heritage.
Spoelstra traces his humble roots to Pinoy in Laguna Province where he was hailed by his mother, Elisa Cellino.
He is the son of John Spoelstra, a sports marketing expert and former CEO of the Buffalo Braves, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets.
Although Spoelstra has spent most of his life living in the United States, he has not forgotten his glowing identity as a Filipino.
The future Hall of Fame coach visited the Philippines privately in 2012, nearly two months after the Heat won its first title under his watch. Spoelstra went on to make a courtesy call to former President Noyonoy Aquino and was warmly welcomed by his relatives to his home province.
Next time around, Spoelstra looks set to kill two birds with one stone this summer: to help the United States regain its glory on the FIBA basketball stage and introduce the culture of passionate Filipinos to the entire world.
“[I am] We also look forward to everyone being able to see the culture of the Philippines during these two and a half weeks. “It will be an amazing event,” he concluded.