Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is shown demonstrating techniques to local coaches. Spoelstra, whose mother is a Filipino, is here as part of US State department program. He will have another clinic on Saturday at the San Andres gym. (ALI VICOY)

Just when they thought they have everything figured out, Filipino coaches realized there’s still so much to learn in basketball, particularly team defense.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra demonstrated last Tuesday some patterns and drills on how the Heat apply pressure defense.

Despite his superstar status, Dwayne Wade is one of the team’s hardworking players on the defensive end, according to the 38-year-old Spoelstra.

“Dwayne will try to block a shot of guys taller than him inside the lane,” he said. “But if that guy passes the ball to a teammate from the three-point line, Dwayne will run to that guy on the three, again try to block the shot. That’s how we play defense in Miami.”

Much of Spoelstra’s clinic centered on team defense, a philosophy he shares with his mentor, Pat Riley.

“He’s one of the great coaches in the NBA,” said Spoelstra of Riley, who is now Miami’s president and general manager. “I just look up to him as my mentor. He’s known in the NBA who preaches team defense.”

Coaches Chot Reyes of Talk’N Text and Tim Cone of Alaska were impressed with Spoelstra’s technique against the pick-and-roll.

“I thought he taught some things that were unique to the NBA and that was really exciting,” Cone said. “These are new things that we’ll bring to the PBA. His techniques, the way he defends the pick-and-rolls and his closes out.” Reyes said: “It’s a different way to defend the pick and roll.”

Spoelstra’s technique prevents the ball handler to knock down an open jump shot and the player who set the screen to cut and receive the pass.

Most of the time, according to Spoelstra, players tend to leave their defensive assignments.

“Bulk of his demonstration focused on his philosophies on defense,” Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio said. “His emphasis as well as his drills on the defense are impressive if you consider the fact that the Heat is one of the better defensive teams in the NBA.”

Spoelstra is the first Fil-American to handle an NBA team. His mother Elisa Celina hails from San Pablo, Laguna.

Joining Spoelstra in the series of clinics organized by the US Department of States’ Sports Envoy Program are Miami assistant coach David Fizdale and former WNBA All-Star Sue Wicks.