Spoelstra wants to hold a mix basketball and boxing clinic with Manny Pacquiao

CHICAGO - Filipino-American Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra hopes to spend his summer break in the Philippines for the third consecutive time and hold a mix basketball and boxing clinic for Filipino youths, together with Sarangani Rep. and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. Spoelstra, the 40-year-old National Basketball Association (NBA) coach, said “I love to have clinic with him (Manny) this summer. Combine boxing and basketball. The two passions in the Philippines. That would be perfect." In an exclusive video interview with GMANews.TV over the weekend, Spoelstra also said when he went to the Philippines during the two previous summers, it was in keeping with the NBA's program to educate the youth on physical fitness and proper nutrition. Spoelstra said his visits to the Philippines were great because he did it for the home country of his mother whose hometown is San Pablo, Laguna. “It was really special for me personally and visiting San Pablo was the highlight of my trips. I wish to go there more often or my family can come here (US) to watch NBA. It’s a beautiful game," said Spoelstra, the youngest coach in the NBA. “I plan to return this summer – July and August – in the Philippines and hope to make the NBA program bigger and better than the last two years," he said. In one of his trips to the Phillippines, Spoelstra said he happened to meet Pacquiao. "I’m a big fan of Manny Pacquiao. It’s a dream to meet him. Somehow, our schedules were coordinated. We were able to say hello to each other and exchange pictures that we can have for a long time," Spoelstra said. Spoelstra recalls that he watched the college and Philippine Basketball Association championship rounds. "I saw Ateneo and La Salle. It was a great atmosphere, like the competition between Duke and North Carolina (in the NCAA) here. The championship round in the PBA was very competitive," he observes. Spoelstra reiterated what he told this reporter two years ago — that Filipinos can play in the NBA. “Basketball game is becoming so global now that 25 years ago, nobody could say that Yao Ming from China or Dirk Nowitzki of Germany could play in the NBA. Basketball is such a passion (in the Philippines), it is only a matter of time," he said. Three NBA 'kings' Meanwhile, on the NBA, Spoelstra said it is still too early to tell what their "blockbuster acquisitions" will do for the Miami Heat. The team acquired the most sought-after free agents last summer — LeBron James and Chris Bosh. The two, together with Dwayne Wade, are said to make up the "three kings" not only of the Miami Heat but of the entire NBA. Spoelstra said the Miami Heat is really “thrilled to have LeBron and Chris" in its fold. “It was terrific for them to join our team and help us grow. They are incredible talents," pointing out that Bosh is an Olympian and an all-star player while James was last year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). “There is a lot more to do. Our team still has its struggles as LeBron and Chris are trying to fit into our system." Spoelstra said. “Hopefully, they will be able to take us to our dream of having back the 2006 championship." When the Heat opened this year with a tentative 9-8 start, the chemistry of the team was put in question. However, the Heat later ran a 21-1 record, quieting some doubts that one of the Three Kings was under-performing. The Heat is now on course to give Boston Celtics a run for its money in the Eastern Conference. Spoelstra said, “I hope the Filipinos, whose passion for basketball is as great as boxing, will be rooting for Miami as we make our run for the playoffs and the NBA championship this year." The interview with Spoelstra took place after the shoot around in the United Center as Miami Heat visited the Chicago Bulls on January 15. The game later that night was a shootout between Bulls’ Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade before a record-breaking crowd of more than 22,000. However, the Bulls got the upper hand when Bulls’ Kyle Korver dropped a late 3-pointer for the final 99-96 score. – VVP, GMANews.TV