Ex-WNBA star joins Spoelstra's RP tour

MANILA, Philippines – Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) pioneer and six-year pro Sue Wicks will join Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra in a six-day visit to the country, starting July 27, to promote goodwill through basketball.

It will be a particularly special tour for Spoelstra, a Fil-Am whose first and only trip to his mother Elisa Caridad Celino’s homeland was when he was three years old.

Spoelstra, 38, is arriving with Wicks and Miami assistant coach David Fizdale. The trip is being organized by the US Department of State in coordination with the US Embassy and NBA Asia. The group will conduct coaching and playing clinics, similar in format to Detlef Schrempf’s camps here in 2003.

Wicks, 42, is considered a legend in the women’s game. She was named the James Naismith College Player of the Year in 1988 with Rutgers University where the 6-3 forward averaged 21.1 points and 10.8 rebounds in four seasons. Among the other Naismith awardees in history are stars Cheryl Miller (thrice), Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi (twice), Candace Parker, Seimone Augustus (twice), Ruth Riley and Jennifer Azzi.

Aside from playing in the WNBA, Wicks also suited up in leagues in France, Italy, Israel, Spain and Hungary. She was known as a travelling ambassador and learned how to speak Spanish, Italian and Japanese.

At Rutgers, her uniform No. 23 was retired, a tribute to her highly successful career with the varsity. She compiled 2,655 total points at Rutgers to set a record in both men and women’s basketball. Wicks was inducted into the Rutgers Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994.

In 1997, Wicks was picked on the first round and sixth overall by the New York Liberty. She played on four Liberty teams that went to the WNBA Finals. In 2001, Wicks was given the Kim Perrot sportsmanship award by the WNBA. After retiring as a pro in 2002, she became an assistant coach at Rutgers and later, at St. Francis College in Brooklyn.

Wicks left school to pursue a basketball career without earning a degree but in 2004, was back on campus to receive her diploma.

NBA Asia senior manager for marketing partnerships Carlo Singson said Wicks’ participation in the tour is a positive sign for women’s basketball which the league hopes to push all over the world. Singson said Wicks easily relates with fans and is a crowd favorite because of her outgoing nature.

Fizdale, 35, joined the Heat as an assistant coach last year after working five seasons with the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks. He began his professional career as a video coordinator with the Heat in 1997 and on his second tour of duty at Miami, is involved in player development, scouting and game preparation.

Fizdale worked with San Miguel Beer skills coach Alton Lister with the Hawks in the breakthrough 2007-08 season. He played point guard at the University of San Diego where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in sociology.

Spoelstra’s Filipino relatives in San Pablo, Laguna, are eagerly anticipating his visit. A first cousin Dr. Andy Dimayuga said yesterday the family is preparing a homecoming celebration.

“We still don’t know what his final itinerary is but we’re hoping we’ll be able to spend more than just ambush time with Erik,” said Dimayuga. “We’re very proud of him. I think the whole country is proud, too, because he’s the first Fil-Am ever to become an NBA head coach.”