THE PBA lost a family member from way back after the passing of former coach Nic Jorge on Saturday.
He was 78.
Although best known for founding the Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training (BEST) Center in 1978, Jorge coached in the pro league in the 80s, handling teams such as the Galleon Shippers and the Manhattan Shirtmakers.
The Galleon team acquired the franchise of Filmanbank and where Jorge had for players the likes of Rudolf Kutch, Larry Mumar, Angelito 'Amang' Ladores, Renato Lobo, and Anthony Dasalla. It finished the 1980 season with a respectable 16-14 (win-loss) record, but not enough to make the semifinals.
In 1981, the franchise was assumed by CDCP (Construction Development Corporation of the Philippines) with Jorge still at the helm. It retained the same core led by Dasalla and Lobo, but added veteran big man Manny Paner. Again, it failed to advance to the next round despite posting the same 16-14 mark before folding up just before the 1982 season.
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Jorge returned in 1983 as head coach of Manhattan Shirtmakers of the Sany Group of Companies, taking over the franchise of multi-titled champion U-Tex.
The Shirtmakers paraded such stalwarts as Rudy Distrito, Noli Banate, Romulo Mamaril, and league pioneer Yoyong Martirez. But the team limped with a 2-7 record in the All-Filipino conference and never made the semis.
Two games in the second conference (Reinforced), Jorge was replaced as coach by import Glenn McDonald, the former Boston Celtics guard who won two championships with U-Tex.
But while Jorge didn't have enough success in the PBA, he did find his niche in Philippine basketball through his popular BEST Center, the pioneering sports clinic that launched the careers of many basketball stars, most of them went on and played in Asia's first ever play-for-pay league.
Among the BEST Center products who became PBA stars include Benjie Paras, Jerry Codinera, Kiefer Ravena, Jun Limpot, Chris Tiu, Rey Evangelista, Patrick Fran, Boybits Victoria, Paolo Mendoza, Larry Fonacier, Joseph Yeo, and a lot more.
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Jorge was also the coach of the Philippine men's basketball team when the country hosted the FIBA World Cup in 1978 and served as UP Maroons' coach at the young age of 21.
He likewise saw the formation of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) where he served as one of its board members during the first two years of the federation.
Jorge is survived by wife Marilyn, children Nick, Veronica, and Victor and Monica, and grandsons Niccolo and Enzo. (RG)
