NBA trophy joins Spoelstra PH trip

MANILA, Philippines—Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will bring more than just his basketball passion in his return trip to Manila.

This time, the Filipino-American coach will have the NBA championship trophy to show in his third Philippine visit from Aug. 2 to 5.

Spoelstra hopes to engage local fans in a series of interactive events in mall tours just a month after steering the Heat to a 4-1 series triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.

The Larry O’Brien championship trophy will be on display during the NBA Trophy Tour presented by Gatorade on Aug. 4 at The Block Atrium, SM North Edsa from 2 to 3 p.m. and on Aug. 5 at the Event Center, SM Megamall from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and at Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Spoelstra, who made history as the first Asian-American coach to win an NBA championship, will also conduct basketball clinics with kids during his four-day trip.

Other highlights of his tour will be the interactive viewing party on Aug. 4 at the Mall of Asia, where Spoelstra will provide inside game information as fans view a replay of his recent Finals win with the celebrated triumvirate of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

“My heritage is very important to me,” Spoelstra said in his last Philippine visit in 2010. “And I want that story to be told because it will open doors to a lot of people, that if they have a dream, they can accomplish it, no matter where they come from.”

Spoelstra’s mother, Elisa Celino, is a native of San Pablo, Laguna.