Filipinos worldwide and fans of the Miami Heat celebrated another achievement by a Filipino-American coach, Erik Spoelstra, who is always proud of his Filipino roots as his mother who hails from the Province of Laguna.
Coach Spo as what he preferred to be called off succeed on leading the Miami Heat for a back-to-back NBA title after they defeated the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the NBA Finals with the score at 95-88.
The 42-year-old Miami Heat Coach was the first Asian American who won a major title in the four major American sports league, and the first Asian American who won the first NBA championship.
During his reign as coach of the Miami Heat since the year 2008 when he was chosen by Pat Riley as successor he was able to gave the Heat two rings for the team and he was also chosen as the head coach of the coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars 2013.
Eric Spoelstra’s father, Jon Spoelstra, was an NBA executive for the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Buffalo Braves and the New Jersey Nets. His mother was Elisa Celino, from San Pablo City in Laguna.