Nic Jorge, former national coach and Milo Best founder, dies at 78

FILE – Best Center founder Nic Jorge and Milo executives Lester Castillo and Luigi Pumaren with Gilas girls standout Ella Fajardo and her family during the PSA Forum last year. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Nic Jorge, the former national team coach and founder of the country’s pioneer training center, died in his sleep Saturday. He was 78.

Jorge, who also served as secretary general of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), which paved the way for the creation of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), is survived by his wife Marilyn, children Nick, Veronica, Victor and Monica and grandsons Niccolo and Enzo.

Jorge was a big contributor in the development of Philippine basketball, particularly in the grassroots level when he founded the Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center (Best Center) in 1978.

The Best Center produced some of the best basketball talents in the country such as Benjie Paras, Jerry Codinera, Jun Limpot, Kiefer Ravena and Chris Tiu among others.

Jorge was the coach of the Philippine team that saw action in the 1978 Fiba World Championship in Manila. He was also a former head coach in the PBA.

Among his earliest head coaching experiences was with the UP Fighting Maroons when he was just 21 years old.