Grooving with the Heat Dancers

By Ma. Rosanna Mina
ABS-CBNNews.com

MANILA, Philippines – A half-Filipino is among the Miami Heat Dancers who are in the country to dazzle NBA and PBA fans with their moves and grooves in the NBA Asia Challenge 2010.

Filipino-Mexican “Maria”, whose mother is a full-blooded Filipino, said she is elated to be back in the Philippines.

More than anything else, it is Filipino cuisine which Maria misses the most.

“I miss the food. I miss the culture,” she told reporters at the Fiesta San Miguel restaurant in Dusit Thani Manila Hotel on Tuesday.

“It’s great,” Maria said. “I’m really glad to be back.”

Six of the 25 Miami Heat Dancers will perform at the NBA exhibition event at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Friday.

Maria is joined by Shara, Taryn, Shea, Natalie and Natalia.

“It’s just such an honor,” Shara said of being invited to be part of the NBA Asia Challenge.

Just like Maria, Natalia is very excited to try Filipino dishes.

Shea, meantime, added that fans can look forward to watching “vibrant and energetic girls.”

She revealed that their routine will have a little bit of salsa from Miami as well as hip-hop.

Their “7th member” of the Miami Heat was also introduced during the press conference on Tuesday. It is no other than Burnie, the Miami Heat mascot.

Prior to the exhibition game on Friday, NBA Asia had lined up various activities for the players and fans.

The events scheduled on Wednesday are the NBA Cares Basketball Clinic, NBA Read to Achieve Activity, Team Practices and NBA Fan Day and Media Availability.

The venue for Wednesday’s activities is the Araneta Coliseum except for the storytelling activity which will be held at the nearby Ali Mall Activity Center.

The Coors Light NBA Pop-A-Shot Tour will be held Wednesday night at Metrowalk in Ortigas, Pasig City.

On Thursday, the NBA Asia Challenge Mall Tour will take place at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

There will also be a Habitat for Humanity build in Caloocan City on Saturday morning.