Best Center teaches 'life through sports'

MANILA, Philippines - The BEST Center (Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center), sponsored by Milo, puts premium on fun activities as it introduces kids to the art of team discipline and interaction through an improved program recently unveiled by BEST Center chairman and founder Nic Jorge.

Jorge, a former national coach and education graduate major in physical education at the University of the Philippines, has hired more than 50 instructors, most of them educators, aside from four veteran coaches (former professionals Eton Navarro, Ompong Segura and Boy de Vera; and former women’s national player Judy Amos), in implementing a time-tested syllabus which the BEST Center has been continually improving since its founding 32 years ago.

“The Best Center has a time-tested approach in teaching children not only basketball, we also introduce our students to the art of interaction and teammanship, which are vital factors when they mature. And we do not only have coaches to implement this, what we have are educators who have been trained for this endeavor,” Jorge said. “These are aside from the individual approach which we have long been giving our students.”

Aside from being the pioneer of basketball clinics in the country, the BEST Center has been a recipient of many awards, including several citations and the Hall of Fame trophy from the Philippine Sportswriters Association.

New BEST Center classes will open today, 8-11 a.m., at the Starmall in Alabang (Levels 1-2), Malate Catholic School (Level 1) and St. Pedro Poveda College (Levels 1-2). Afternoon classes also start 1-4 p.m. at the Malate Catholic School (Levels 2-3), Xavier School (Levels 1-2) and at the Assumption College (Levels 1-2).

Late enrollees are still being accepted in various Best Center clinic sites, including at the Ateneo Covered Courts, Starmall Alabang, Olivarez College and Christ the King, which started last April 5.

Sessions for clinics which started yesterday at the Ateneo and St. Clare College in Caloocan are still accepting enrollees for basketball; while volleyball students will be accepted at the Notre Dame and St. Pedro Poveda venues.

BEST Center provincial stops are set in Daet, Roxas City, Cagayan de Oro, Laguna, Davao, Pampanga, Bacolod, Baguio, Tagum, Lucban in Quezon, Iloilo, Dagupan, Butuan, Cebu, General Santos, Bulacan, Bataan and Isabela.