Spoelstra wanted to play in PBA

FILIPINO American NBA coach Erik Spoelstra said he initially dreamed of playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

“Growing up, my goal initially was to play in the PBA,” Spoelstra, who is an assistant coach on team USA, told reporters in Taguig on Wednesday. “That was always a dream of mine. My family would send me tapes of PBA games, and I just saw that and how crazy the crowds were.”

Erik Spoelstra. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO 

The Miami Heat head coach, who has Filipino roots and the first Asian American head coach in the history of the four North American major sports leagues, said it was always part of his plan.

“I ended up playing overseas for a couple of years, then I was eventually going to come over here and try to play, but then, I got re-routed to Miami,” Spoelstra said. “But once we started coming over here with the NBA, and doing camps and clinics… that’s what we really wanted to be involved in, at the grassroots level.” Spoelstra was holding a basketball clinic for young Filipino players at a gym in Taguig on Wednesday, along with Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and Tyrese Haliburton of team USA. He was also accompanied by fellow NBA coaches Ty Lue and team USA head coach Steve Kerr.

He is currently the second-longest serving head coach in the NBA, behind San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.