MAKATI CITY – Business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) is rooting for the Miami Heat. Pangilinan readily replied “Miami” when asked by reporters what team he is rooting for in the on-going National Basketball Association (NBA) finals between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs.
“Miami ako syempre. Filipino ang coach nila at Filipino rin naman ako (I am for Miami of course they have a Filipino coach and I am also a Filipino),” said Pangilinan on the sidelines of the annual PLDT stockholders meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel here last week.
“Si (Erik) Spoelstra palagi umuuwi dito sa Laguna dito dinadala ang pamilya niya. Marami natutulungan dito sa atin (Spoelstra is always coming home here in Laguna, he brings his family here. He helps a lot of people here in our country),” said Pangilinan.
Spoelstra is the son of Dutch-Irish American Jon Spoelstra who was an NBA executive of the Portland Trailblazers among others and the grandson of the late Watson Spoelstra, a sportswriter in the Detroit area. His mother, Elisa Celino, is from San Pablo City in Laguna. He has travelled several times to the Philippines.
Miami pulled off what sportswriters described as a “miracle” in Game 6 of the NBA finals tying the series at 3-3 and forcing a game 7 in Miami’s home court.
The game was close throughout the first half until the Spurs took a big 13-point lead in the 3rd quarter.
The Heat managed to catch up and tie the score in the 4th quarter to send the game into overtime.
LeBron James, series MVP, shrugged off a poor start to get 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds while Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds to play to force the overtime.
James’ layup with 1:43 to play in overtime gave the Heat a 101-100 lead, and Allen added two free throws to force Game 7, which is on Thursday night in Miami (9am Philippine time today).
