Tags: Basketball
By Marjorie Gorospe
MARIKINA CITY, METRO MANILA – Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, the first NBA head coach of Filipino ancestry, continues to preach his health and fitness gospel even to young underprivileged kids.
“Coach Spo” visited the Manila Boys Town, a government-owned institution and facility in Parang, Marikina to conduct basketball clinics and fun games for some 40 kids under the NBA Cares program.
Spoelstra, who arrived in the country last week for the first NBA Fit Week in the Philippines, is also conducted basketball clinics for Filipino collegiate players.
The Miami coach, whose mother hails from San Pablo, Laguna, advocates conditioning for Filipino athletes, in general.
Spoelstra said he enjoyed the afternoon with the kids (aged 9 to 18) at Boys Town and was so happy to note their passion and interest in the sport.
“Basketball is a beautiful sport, especially when you start it at a young age. It’s not just fun, it also teaches you lessons that you can use outside of basketball. Sacrifice, discipline and the value of playing together are things you can use in real life,” he told the kids.
Spoelstra, along with Miami Heat assistant coach Dave Fizdale, taught the kids primarily defensive basketball drills. Defense, according to Spoelstra, was the most important part of basketball.
“Defense is fun, I’ll show you,” he told an audience of eager kids.
The day before, Spoelstra brought his basketball and fitness lessons to Far Eastern University and De La Salle University, two member schools of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
The league-leading FEU Tamaraws and the Lady Tamaraws underwent the full NBA FIT basketball and fitness clinic, which consisted of group fitness exercises, “Dribble, Dish, Swish” and fitness challenges, a nutrition seminar from the Food Nutrition and Research Instituite (FNRI), hydration seminar from Gatorade and a hiphop dance workout from Fitness First.
“This health and fitness initiative if done consistently, will benefit the whole nation in the long run,” said Glenn Capacio, FEU Tamaraws head coach.
In the afternoon, De La Salle University physical education classes benefited from the NBA FIT program, which also included dance training by renowned dance coach Mariette Basa.
Coach Spoelstra and NBA FIT will also conduct an NBA-style training camp for the top 80 basketball prospects (40 boys and 40 girls) aged 16 to 19 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The participants will come from the NCAA and the UAAP and will learn the latest NBA techniques and fitness training. They will also take part in advanced hydration, sweat tests and other activities.
An NBA FIT Fun Run, co-organized by RunRio, will take place on Aug. 14 with 3K, 5K and 10K distances. It is open to participants of all ages, with a total of 2,000 spots available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration will be held at RUNNR, Bonifacio High Street at The Fort, and at Fitness First, SM Mall of Asia branch, with registration fee of P300.
Each participant will get a special NBA Fun Run Running Singlet, with the top finishers winning special prizes including NBA basketballs autographed by Coach Spoelstra, one-month membership provided by Fitness First, and other premiums sponsored by the NBA FIT Week event partners.
NBA FIT, an initiative under the NBA Cares umbrella, is the league’s comprehensive health and wellness program that encourages physical activity and healthy living for children and families through programs, events and products.
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