ABS-CBN's TJ Manotoc, who is covering the NBA finals in the US, said members of the international media are making sure that Spoelstra gets credit for the Heat’s latest championship victory, as most people tend to focus on Miami’s superstars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Manotoc said Van Gundy, a former NBA coach himself, believes the 42-year-old Miami coach has the potential of joining all-time coaching greats like Pat Riley, Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich.
“[Si] Jeff Van Gundy na nag-aanalyze for ESPN and ABC Sports, sinasabi sa kanya na this Erik Spoelstra is a future Hall of Fame coach,” Manotoc reported on dzMM after the Heat defeated the Spurs in game 7.
Spoelstra joined the Heat in 1995 as the team's video coordinator. He was promoted to other positions before he was named successor of Riley as head coach of Miami in 2008.
He steered the Heat to the NBA Finals in 2011, but the team lost to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Heat eventually won its first NBA title under Spoelstra the following year by drubbing the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Manotoc said Miami management continued to back up the Filipino-American coach, despite the team's 2011 defeat to the Mavericks.
Riley, Miami team president, and Micky Arison, the Heat’s team owner must have seen something special in Spoelstra, said Manotoc.
“Anuman ang haka-haka ng kritiko kung magchampion o hindi, sabi nila Erik Spoelstra is our man, he will be the coach of this team for a very long time,” he said.
Van Gundy said Spoesltra has what it takes to join the likes of Jackson and Popovich.
“Hinahanay niya [si Spoeltra] kasama si Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich na multi-titled coaches na sinasabi niya na pag natapos ang career nitong Erik Spoelstra, siguradong isang Hall of Famer ang kababayan natin,” said Manotoc.
Jackson is an 11-time NBA champion, while Popovich is a 4-time NBA champion. Spoelstra’s predecessor, Riley, is also a coaching legend with 5 titles in his belt.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
