MANILA, Philippines – Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is delighted that the NBA is holding a Filipino Heritage Week for the first time.

Spoelstra, a Filipino-American who traces his roots to San Pablo, Laguna, was admittedly surprised that the Filipino Heritage Week became a league-wide event as he initially thought it would be only for the Heat.

"Then I found out that Golden State was involved, and I found out it was going to be honored around the NBA," Spoelstra said in a conference call with Philippine media on Tuesday night.

"I had goosebumps thinking about it," he admitted.

The NBA's Filipino Heritage Week runs from March 13 to 19 and will be highlighted by the Heat's games against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 15 and against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 17.

The Warriors will take on the Milwaukee Bucks on March 19.

As part of the celebration, both the Warriors and the Heat will host Philippine-themed activities, including musical performances and giveaways.

There will also be a viewing party in the Philippines as well as an NBA Cares event.

"It is pretty amazing, isn't it?" Spoelstra said. "To be able to recognize a night like this is pretty special."

"I think about our first trip to the Philippines seven or eight years ago, and we saw how the NBA offices over there were smaller, and the vision hadn't been together about how it could grow over there," he reminisced.

"But now, I love looking at the list every summer to see which players are going over there, which guys are going over on tour, what camps are going on," he added.

More than anything, it fills Spoelstra with pride to see the NBA pay tribute to his heritage and to the Filipino fans who are always considered as among the most passionate basketball fans in the world.

"Obviously, my heritage is really important to me and my family. I'm proud to be a Filipino. When it's recognized around the NBA, it's a special thing," he said.

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)