FILE– Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—Erik Spoelstra is all too familiar with how passionate Filipinos are with basketball.
And it’s something the Filipino-American NBA head coach would want to share with the rest of the world especially Team USA when it plays in the 2023 Fiba World Cup in Manila.
“We are going out there and that’s one of the first things I heard about and talked about in this next segment for Team USA — we will be out there,” he said during his media availability at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio. “So, I got goosebumps when I found out that the world championships will be there. It’ll be fun.”
“I’m really grateful that everybody will be able to see Manila and the enthusiasm about basketball. The fanbase there is as good as anywhere in the world and I’m just glad that the entire world will see that,” added Spoelstra, who coached Team Durant in the All-Star Game.
Spoelstra will be with Team USA–assuming it qualifies–for the World Cup after being named as one of the assistant coaches in the 2022-24 USA Basketball men’s national team coaching staff.
The Philippines is co-hosting the World Cup with Japan and Indonesia.