The award-winning BEST Center (Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center) ended last year with a bang when its boys’ team won the overall crown, while its girls’ squad settled for the silver medal in the inaugural United Nations of Basketball U17 World Team Skills Championships before the new year.
The Best Center boys’ squad was crowned world champion by beating participants from Spain, Samoa, Palestine, Romania, Lebanon, and Hawaii.
The squad formed around National Capital Region representatives Peeco Napenas, Adrian Malapo, Kennard Alde, and Lanze Ronquillo; and joined by Harvy Guevarra (Pampanga), Asher Vidal (Pangasinan), Pankie Capistrano (Lucena), Emmon Ferrer (Cabanatuan), Paul Barcelona (Bacolod), Zak Gumaya (Baguio), LJ Dellosa (CDO), and Lebron Lim (Zamboanga), won all three drills in impressive fashion over their Spanish counterparts from Molina Basket Club.
BEST Center Sports scored five, six and four in the agility, ball handling and shooting drills, respectively, to win the world crown.
The girls’ team of Ysabela Gonzales, Aishe Solis, Kharel Siapoc, Bonie Solis, Ava Fajardo, Issa Martires, Shinee Solis, Marga Villanueva, Princess Villarin, Shanna Nuguid, Ynnia Abella, Kyla Mataga, and Julliene Galgana, however, bowed to PROformance of Hawaii in the battle for gold.
The BEST Center, founded by the late national coach Nicanor Jorge in 1978, is also a Philippine Sportswriters Association Hall-of-Fame awardee and a recipient of the Philippine Olympic Committee Olympism Award.