By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) - MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday welcomed Miami Heat Fil-Am head coach Erik Spoelstra, who briefed him on the NBA Fit program, the league’s global comprehensive health and wellness campaign.
“This is also a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the President,” said Spoelstra, who is on a one-week campaign to promote the NBA Fit program and hold cage clinics in various schools and malls.
Joining the President in welcoming Spoelstra and other members of the Miami Heat staff in Malacanang were Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Presidential cousin Rafael Lopa, and Philippine Airlines executive vice president Viviene Tan.
In an interview, Spoelstra said it was an honor to personally meet the President whom he briefed on the activities of the NBA Fit program, which encourages physical activity and healthy living for children and families through programs and events.
“We are here with the NBA Fit program and I’m here with the Miami Heat staff and we’re very involved in trying to promote our program here of fitness and teaching young Filipino kids about the importance of being physically fit, learning proper nutrition and making healthy choices,” Spoelstra said.
To show his appreciation, Spoelstra gave the President a white NBA Fit t-shirt which he signed: “To President Aquino, you inspire all of us to make a difference.”
Now on its third year, the NBA Fit program, which began its Philippine run last July 25, is now on its second week.
The expanded physical program includes the following elements: NBA Fit clinics, development camps, celebrity NBA Fit challenge and fun run.
“We’re (now) spending a lot of time outside schools and unto the (basketball) courts trying to promote a healthy lifestyle, a lot of it through playing the game of basketball but not exclusively to basketball,” Spoelstra said.
Born to Fe Celino, a Filipina from San Pablo, Laguna, the 35-year-old Spoelstra is an ex-collegiate basketball player at the University of Portland, Oregon and a former professional basketball player/coach for Tus Herten, a team in the professional sports league of Germany.
