00:00 Well, the FIBA World Cup is just around the corner.
00:01 Giles Pilipinas is obviously the team Filipino fans will root for.
00:05 But the World Cup is also bringing in not only the best players,
00:08 but also the brightest minds in the game.
00:10 And they got to sit down one-on-one with Team USA assistant coach Eric Spolstra.
00:14 Now, in part one of this exclusive TV interview with Coach Spol,
00:19 he and I had an all-out conversation about a lot of things.
00:23 Of course, the World Cup, Giles Pilipinas, and Team USA.
00:27 Watch this.
00:28 Welcome back to Manila, sir.
00:30 Thank you.
00:30 Pleasure to be here.
00:31 I got to meet you before.
00:32 Did you-- I showed you the photo.
00:34 Those are great pictures.
00:35 Great to have you again back here in Manila.
00:38 How are you?
00:39 How have you been?
00:39 Doing great.
00:41 And it was a thrill to show up here yesterday and for the players and staff
00:45 to see the reception that we got.
00:47 I tried to explain to everybody what to expect here.
00:51 But unless you actually experience it firsthand,
00:53 there's no way to articulate it.
00:54 How was the clinic?
00:55 Earlier, you had a clinic with some kids.
00:57 That was awesome.
00:58 I see all these kids just really giggling and really, really happy to see you.
01:03 See some players here.
01:04 Coach Steve Kerr was also here, Mikhail Bridges, Tyrese Alleyburton, Cam Johnson,
01:09 Josh Hart.
01:10 How was that like?
01:11 Yeah, it was really fun.
01:12 I mean, it brings me back to the trips I used to come here with the NBA.
01:15 Every summer, that's when we first met.
01:18 That's the part I enjoy about the game is the grassroots level.
01:22 And to have the turnout that we had was amazing.
01:26 Coach Carlos did such a marvelous job with the clinic.
01:31 I know it was just a lot of fun.
01:33 It reminded me of being back here 10 years ago.
01:35 Yeah.
01:36 Coach, it's been 45 years for the Philippines to host the World Cup.
01:40 And you know how it is-- the passion, the craziness, the Filipino basketball fans.
01:44 I want to get your thoughts on that.
01:46 Now it's here, your expectations.
01:48 And finally, it's back in the Philippines, the World Cup.
01:51 Yeah, I couldn't believe it.
01:52 I had to pinch myself when I found out.
01:54 I mean, first of all, having the opportunity--
01:56 it's the honor of a lifetime to be a part of the USA basketball program.
02:00 And then once I found out that the World Championships were
02:02 going to be in Manila, I thought, there's no way.
02:04 Sign me in.
02:04 Yeah, I'm in.
02:06 Right away.
02:06 Yeah.
02:08 So it's really an amazing opportunity.
02:12 And then I'm going to be able to reconnect, obviously, see some family,
02:16 see some friends, and also be able to compete at the highest level.
02:19 It'll be a big challenge.
02:20 It's a global game, as we know now.
02:22 And that's the beautiful thing about it, that the game now
02:25 is spread to every region in the world.
02:27 We still feel that it's the best in America.
02:31 But the last time we played in the World Championships,
02:33 it didn't go well for us.
02:35 We have a great respect for all the countries out there.
02:38 And we know it's going to be a tough challenge.
02:40 And we're looking forward to it.
02:41 Coach, I want to get your thoughts just a bit
02:43 about our very own Gilas Filipinas, the Filipino men's basketball team.
02:46 Jordan Clarkson is there, Utah Jazz star, former six-man of the year,
02:50 Kai Soto also there.
02:52 Your thoughts on the Philippines, and how do you
02:54 think will we do on the world stage?
02:56 Yeah, I think it's going to be really exciting.
02:58 The coaching is going to be phenomenal with Coach Chott and Coach Tim.
03:02 I have spoken to Coach Tim about the team.
03:04 And he's looking forward to it as well.
03:06 And I know they've been putting in a lot of hard work.
03:08 I can't wait.
03:09 Hopefully, I'm going to be able to catch some games.
03:12 And I think adding those two guys are definitely going to help.
03:20 But they put in the work.
03:22 And now it's a matter of just doing it on the biggest stage.
03:25 You mentioned you're messaging with Coach Tim.
03:27 How's your relationship with Coach Tim?
03:28 Still in contact?
03:29 Yeah.
03:29 Yeah, I mean, we're both busy during the year.
03:31 But we check in on each other usually once every few weeks,
03:35 at least just to say hello.
03:37 And then once we found out that the championships would be here,
03:40 obviously, we started to communicate a little bit more.
03:43 And we'll definitely connect while we're out here.
03:46 Coach, Team USA, as you mentioned, in 2019, you finished seventh.
03:49 Now you're bringing in a young team, a young, energetic, really
03:53 athletic team.
03:54 How hungry is this team?
03:55 Coach Steve Kirk, Coach Ty Luke, yourself,
03:58 really distinguished coaches in the coaching staff.
04:00 How hungry is this team to reclaim the top spot again?
04:04 Yeah, this team understands the history.
04:06 First of all, the history of the USAV program,
04:10 which there's a legacy to that.
04:12 There's expectations.
04:14 But also, not having the success that we've always had before.
04:20 And that can be very humbling.
04:23 The last time we were in the World Championships,
04:25 it didn't go the way we wanted it to.
04:27 And I think everybody's aware of that.
04:29 This group has a great spirit about them.
04:31 This is the future of the NBA.
04:33 These are the future stars.
04:35 So some of them might not be household names around the world,
04:38 but they are in the NBA.
04:39 And more importantly, they understand the importance
04:44 of having to come together as a team.
04:47 It's not about playing individually.
04:48 It's about sacrificing and serving for whatever's
04:51 best for this group.
04:53 Coach, undefeated in the friendlies.
04:56 You guys must really feel good about yourself.
04:58 But you know this, not to stay high, not to be too low.
05:01 How's the confidence level?
05:03 Because again, this is a very young group.
05:06 Anthony Edwards, Dylan Brunson, they're
05:08 stars in their different teams, Bridges, Brandon,
05:10 Ingram.
05:11 How's the overall confidence of this group
05:13 from top to bottom, even the coaching staff?
05:15 Yeah, and there's a respect level, too,
05:17 for the competition.
05:18 We were in a really tough game right before we got here.
05:22 Germany.
05:22 Against Germany, yeah.
05:23 We were down most of the game.
05:25 And that's what FIBA is about.
05:27 It doesn't always go smooth.
05:29 And a lot of the games that we played in the Olympics,
05:34 we had to fight from behind.
05:36 So it's going to be really competitive.
05:39 This group has a great spirit about them.
05:42 And we're just looking forward to getting started.
05:46 Well, what is Coach Eric Spoh's favorite Dwayne Wade moment?
05:50 You can catch the answer in part two
05:52 of this exclusive one-on-one interview with Coach Spoh
05:55 coming up after the break.
05:56 And also, who among Team USA's lineup in this World Cup
06:01 reminds him of Dwayne Wade?
06:03 All that and more, Coach Spoh will answer,
06:05 only here on SportsSets on CNN Philippines.
06:08 We'll be right back.
06:09 Stay tuned.
06:09 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:13 Welcome back.
06:20 SportsSets only here on CNN Philippines.
06:22 Now we will continue our All Out conversation
06:25 with Coach Eric Spoh's show, where
06:27 we talked about his Miami Heat and his former player
06:31 and good friend Dwayne Wade's induction
06:33 into the Hall of Fame.
06:34 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:36 Coach, to pivot a bit, congratulations, by the way.
06:39 Miami Heat.
06:40 I just want to talk about your team.
06:41 What a run.
06:43 Losing in the play-in and then making it all the way
06:45 to the finals.
06:46 Of course, a two-time champion when
06:49 you were the head coach with the Big Three, LeBron, Dwayne
06:51 Wade, Chris Walsh, and those guys.
06:54 And now, with Jimmy Butler leading the way,
06:55 what can you say about the character of this team
06:57 and just continuing to have that winning tradition for Miami?
07:02 Yeah, I'm glad you used that word
07:04 because what this team had times 10 was character.
07:10 A competitive character, a competitive character
07:13 when things were not going necessarily the way we wanted
07:16 it to.
07:17 The group could respond to adversity
07:19 arguably as well as any group that I've ever been around.
07:22 And it ended up being one of the more memorable seasons
07:25 that any of us had been a part of.
07:28 And it was an honor to be a part of that group.
07:30 And these will now be lifelong memories and relationships
07:32 that we have forever.
07:35 It's amazing.
07:36 A lot of moves happening.
07:37 But of course, you're here for Team USA.
07:39 Lastly, before I let you go, I still have two more.
07:43 But before I ask for your message,
07:44 Coach Dwayne Wade, your good friend, Hall of Famer.
07:48 What makes D. Wade a first ballot Hall of Famer?
07:51 And second question, what is your favorite D. Wade moment?
07:55 He's a first ballot talent, Hall of Famer, without a doubt.
08:00 Hands down.
08:01 But he's a first ballot human being, Hall of Famer.
08:03 And I think that's what makes him really unique
08:05 and why when we went there and celebrated with him
08:08 two weeks ago, it really was a celebration of him
08:13 as the person.
08:13 That's where he made such an impression on everybody
08:16 because he gets the human side.
08:18 He was always able to be a great teammate, a great friend.
08:24 He's somebody now that I know I can always
08:27 count on to text when I need it the most.
08:31 And I hope he feels the same way about me.
08:33 And we've grown up in the business.
08:35 And now we have families.
08:36 And now we're usually texting not about the game.
08:39 It's usually about kids or things of that nature.
08:43 I treasure that relationship.
08:45 I feel blessed to have been able to work with him
08:48 for 15 of his 16 years.
08:51 And yeah, so my memories--
08:53 That long already when you think about it.
08:54 Yeah, you typically don't have that opportunity.
08:57 Usually either the coach is going to be fired
08:58 or a player is going to be traded.
09:00 So I am eternally grateful for the opportunity
09:03 that we've been able to develop that kind of relationship.
09:06 And I have many memories, but a lot of them
09:09 are the friendships and the discussions
09:12 that we had that had nothing to do with basketball.
09:14 One of the recent text messages he gave me
09:19 is he knew we were coming over here for the World
09:21 Championships.
09:21 And he spent a lot of time in Asia.
09:23 And visiting and everything.
09:28 But he wants to come to Manila.
09:29 And he wants to--
09:30 Bring him here.
09:31 Yeah, I want to do it.
09:32 Because he's talked about it for now a few years.
09:34 And he's beloved here for all the right reasons.
09:39 And--
09:39 I miss Jersey.
09:41 I would love for him to be able to really truly experience
09:44 the level of passion for the game and for him.
09:46 Is there a particular player on this Team USA team
09:48 that reminds you of D-Wed?
09:50 Yeah.
09:51 We know who that is.
09:53 It's hard not to look at Anthony Edwards
09:55 and not see Dwayne Wade in him.
09:57 And I'm not a guy for comparisons.
09:59 I'm not.
10:00 But the way he moves, the way he competes,
10:02 the way he electrifies a crowd, yes, that
10:05 reminds me of number three.
10:07 And I have told Anthony that.
10:09 And I feel like I'm going back in time.
10:12 And it's making me younger again.
10:14 I'm really enjoying it.
10:16 Coach, lastly, your message to all the Filipino basketball
10:19 fans.
10:19 Of course, excited.
10:20 We know you're with Team USA.
10:22 But the fans will be rooting for you for sure.
10:24 What do you want to tell all the Filipino basketball fans,
10:26 Coach?
10:27 Go ahead.
10:27 Well, I appreciate--
10:29 we appreciate all the support.
10:30 I can't wait for Team USA to see all the passion
10:34 and enthusiasm for this beautiful game of basketball
10:36 here in Manila.
10:38 And I'm also looking forward to catching
10:40 some games for the national team in the Philippines as well.
10:45 Coach, [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
10:47 OK.
10:47 Thank you.
10:48 And great to see you again.
10:49 All right.
10:49 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
10:50 It's been a while.
10:50 Thank you, Coach.
10:51 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
10:51 Good luck.
10:52 All right.
10:54 Really great talking to one and only Miami Heat head coach
10:57 and assistant coach of Team USA, Filipino-American coach,
Comments