READY FOR THE CHALLENGE

Miami Heat Fil-Am Head
Coach Erik Spoelstra.

In a lengthy interview with Quinito "The Dean" Henson of the PhilStar, Miami Heat Filipino-American head coach Erik Spoelstra talked so many things about the Heat, on how he is looking forward on the start of training camp and the excitement it brings on a powerhouse line-up anchored on the new “Three Kings” in Dwyane Wade, Lebron James and Chris Bosh. He even shared his healthy diet to keep him fit and sharp during the NBA season. Spoelstra also added that it was an awesome experience to visit the motherland of his mother once again and marveled on how big basketball is in the Philippines. 

“We know what the goal is. Right now, we’re getting ready for training camp. We’ve brought in players who fit the Miami fabric, guys who embrace our philosophy and culture. We’re looking forward to the challenge. We’ve got a diverse staff, a coaching staff and the players to get the job done. The key is to stay focused.

“It’s different each year. Each season is unique in its own way. Obviously, we’re excited about this coming journey. We know what we need to be. We built our team not thinking about how other teams are or will be. We brought in guys who know how to win, how to play under pressure, guys whom we can be proud to call Miami Heat players.

“Udonis embodies our philosophy and spirit. He could’ve gone to another team for more money but chose to stay. It’s all about attitude. Udonis and Dwyane have that leadership quality, the character we need to bring our team to the next level.

“Pat’s my boss and mentor. His office is just down the hall from mine. When I need to consult him about something, I just knock on his door and go straight in. I’ve learned a lot from him and I haven’t stopped learning from him.

“Sometimes I feel old for my age with all the stress of an NBA coach. But you feel young when you’re fit, doing what you love to do. For exercise, I do different things. I love to run – it clears my mind, refreshes you. I bike and lift weights, too. In a way, exercising is my release and it’s fun to do. It helps you physically and mentally. As for my diet, I’m a creature of habit in that I eat nearly the same thing over and over. For breakfast, I do three eggs, whole wheat bread, tomatoes, oatmeal and fruit – home and away. For lunch, I do a salad with tomatoes, leafy veggies or broccoli and grilled chicken or fish. For dinner, it’s about the same. I don’t do junk food although I do have my cheat days which aren’t that often. When I do unhealthy food, I get sluggish. During the season, I try to eat healthy all the time.

“What I notice from watching the collegiate and pro games was the passion of the spectators. It was an awesome atmosphere and reminded me once more of my greatest regret in life – not being able to play in the PBA. The atmosphere in the collegiate game was electric with all the bands and cheerleaders. In the PBA, I saw the competitiveness of the players and how well-coached they are.

“It’s respect for the game. We call it a sense of urgency, that whatever you do on the court, you do it well, you do it with impact. The game can be taken away from you very easily because someone out there is waiting to move in and willing to work harder. You respect the game and it treats you right in return. Basketball is a beautiful game and you play it with discipline, commitment and respect. I thought the response of the kids to our message of urgency was terrific.


“The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world where basketball, by far, is the No. 1 sport. People play it all over the place. I’ve seen makeshift goals in streets and kids playing even without shoes. Kids start playing at a young age so they learn early. Fans are very knowledgeable about the NBA and everywhere I go in the country, I’m asked about next season. I know there are a lot of Laker and Celtic fans among Filipinos. I’m hoping to encourage more Miami Heat fans.”