Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra on Wednesday encouraged local coaches to strive hard and keep on improving during a clinic attended by several PBA coaches at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The 39-year-old Spoelstra, the first American-Filipino to coach an NBA team, shared his ups and downs in his first season as the Heat coach but was happy he made it to the playoffs – thanks to the efforts of superstar Dwayne Wade.

“Coaching in the NBA is a challenge,” Spoelstra said as he conducted a clinic to 80 pro and amateur coaches. “It’s a six-month, 82-game season and we play almost four days a week. The practices have to be really efficient.”

“You (as coach) have to be physically fit, strengthen your body,” added Spoelstra.

His clinic is part of the United States (US) Department of States’ Sports Envoy Program. He is accompanied
 Heat assistant coach David Fizdale and former WNBA all-star Sue Wicks.

Among the PBA coaches who were present in the clinic were Chot Reyes of Philippine Cup champion Talk ’N Text, Siot Tanquingcen of Fiesta Cup titlist San Miguel Beer, Alaska’s Tim Cone, Ryan Gregorio of Purefoods, Coca-Cola’s Kennth Duremdes, Rain or Shine’s Caloy Garcia, and Sta. Lucia’s Boyet Fernandez.

Also present were Norman Black of UAAP champion Ateneo, Smart-Gilas mentor Rajko Toroman, as well as Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines’ Chito Narvasa and Alfrancis Chua.

“Obviously this is very important. He’s a great motivation for us coaches because he’s half Filipino,” Gregorio said. “We look up to him as coach because he’s in the big league. I hope to learn from him, some ideas, how to attack the game.”

“I’m sure I can learn a lot of things from him because he’s been tagged as one of the better coaches in terms of preparation and motivating players, in bringing out the best to his players,” he added.

Chua said that BCAP is fully supporting the clinic, saying: “Malaking bagay, we can relate because he’s half Pinoy. Actually that’s why we are here, we’re supporting a Filipino guy who is coaching in the NBA. Malaking bagay ang mabibigay n’ya dito lalo sa mga batang coaches.”

As for Tanquingcen and Reyes, both are looking forward to the preparation Spoelstra is doing to prepare the Heat.