{{Short description|Filipino basketball coach (1941–2020)}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Nic Jorge | image = | number = | position = | height_ft = | height_in = | weight_lb = | league = | birth_date = {{birth date|1941|11|27}} | birth_place = Manila, Philippine Commonwealth | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|06|13|1941|11|27}} | death_place = Iloilo City | nationality = Filipino | high_school = | college = UP | draft_year = | draft_league = | career_start = | career_end = | cyears1 = 1960s | cteam1 = UP | cyears2 = 1978 | cteam2 = Philippines | cyears3 = 1981–1982 | cteam3 = CDCP Road Builders | cyears4 = 1983 | cteam4 = Manhattan Shirtmakers | cyears5 = 1983 | cteam5 = Singapore | cyears6 = 1997–1999 | cteam6 = UP | cyears7 = 2000–2001 | cteam7 = Mapua }} '''Nicanor Fortich Jorge Jr.''' (November 27, 1941 – June 13, 2020) was a Filipino basketball coach who has led the Philippines and Singapore men's national teams. He is also the founder of the Best Center, a sports training institution which has produced several national team and professional players.
==Early life and education== Nicanor Fortich Jorge Jr. was born on November 27, 1941, in Manila. He studied at the University of the Philippines Diliman where he took a BSE degree in physical education. He also played for the UP Fighting Maroons, with his performance helping him secure a tenure as coach of the collegiate team.<ref name="espn5">{{cite news |last1=Ventura |first1=Sid |title=Nic Jorge, Milo BEST Center founder and veteran coach, dies at 77 |url=https://tv5.espn.com/basketball/story/_/id/29304608/nic-jorge-milo-best-center-founder-veteran-coach-dies-77 |accessdate=June 15, 2020 |work=ESPN5 |date=June 13, 2020}}</ref>
==Coaching career== Jorge started his coaching career in the 1960s when he became head coach of the UP basketball team at age 21.<ref name="mb1">{{cite news |last1=Galvez |first1=Waylon |title=Former PH basketball team coach Nic Jorge passes away |url=https://sports.mb.com.ph/2020/06/13/former-ph-basketball-team-coach-nic-jorge-passes-away/ |accessdate=June 15, 2020 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=June 13, 2020}}</ref> In 1994, Jorge led the Maroons to a third-place finish.<ref name="espn5"/>
Jorge has also served as a head coach for several Philippine Basketball Association teams. In the 1980 season, he coached the Galleon Shippers (which renamed itself as the CDCP Road Builders) until its disbandment before the 1982 season. For the 1983 season, Jorge coached the Manhattan Shirtmakers<!---named of the Winston Kings franchise at the time---> in the All-Filipino Conference.<ref name="espn5"/>
He returned to coaching the UP Fighting Maroons succeeding, Eric Altamirano and coached the team from 1997 to 1999. In 1997 he led the collegiate team to a Final Four finish.<ref name="espn5"/>
===International career=== Jorge coached the national team which played at the 1978 FIBA World Championship<ref name=pdi>{{cite news |last1=Giongco |first1=Mark |title=Nic Jorge, former national coach and Milo Best founder, dies at 78 |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/396309/nic-jorge-former-national-coach-and-milo-best-founder-dies-at-78 |accessdate=June 15, 2020 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=June 13, 2020}}</ref> and the 1978 Asian Games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Banal crosses fingers, hopes to get RP 5 job |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2005/01/02/sports/banal-crosses-fingers-hopes-to-get-rp-5-job/699188/ |accessdate=June 15, 2020 |date=January 2, 2005}}</ref> Jorge also led the Singapore national team at the 1983 Southeast Asian Games.<ref name="mb1"/>
==Sports administration== Jorge was Secretary General of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) in the 1980s, which was the governing body for basketball in the Philippines until its replacement by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). He also played a role in the SBP's grassroots program.<ref name="mb1"/>
==Best Center== Nic Jorge is credited with founding the Best Center, a sports training center in 1978. The center has produced several national team and professional basketball players including, Jerry Codiñera, Jun Limpot, Benjie Paras, Kiefer Ravena, and Chris Tiu.<ref name=pdi/>
==Coaching record== ===Collegiate record=== {|class=wikitable style="text-align:center" |- !rowspan=2|Season !!rowspan=2|Team !!colspan=4| Eliminations !!colspan=5| Playoffs |- !W!!L!!PCT!!Finish!!PG!!W!!L!!PCT!!Results |- ! colspan="11" |UP Fighting Maroons (UAAP) |- |1997||UP|| 8 || 6 || .571 || 4th || 2 || 1 || 1 || .500 || Semifinals. |- |1998||UP|| 7 || 7 || .500 || 5th || 1 || 0 || 1 || .000 || 4th-seed playoff. |- |1999|| UP|| 5 || 9 || .357 || 6th ||— |— |— |— |Eliminated |- ! colspan="11" |Mapua Cardinals (NCAA) |- |2000 || MIT || 5 || 9 || .357 || 5th ||— |— |— |— |Eliminated |- |2001 || MIT || 9 || 5 || .643 || 3rd || 2 || 1 || 1 || .500 || Semifinals. |- !colspan=2| Totals !! 34 !! 36 !! .485 !! !! 5 !! 2 !! 3 !! .400 !! 0 championships |}
==Death== Jorge died in his sleep on June 13, 2020, in Iloilo City.<ref name=rappler1>{{cite news |title=Former PH basketball coach Nic Jorge dies at 78 |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/263709-former-philippine-basketball-coach-nic-jorge-dies-at-78/ |access-date=June 15, 2020 |work=Rappler |date=June 13, 2020}}</ref>
==Personal life== Jorge was married to Marilyn with whom he had three children.<ref name=rappler1/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jorge, Nic}} Category:1942 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Filipino men's basketball coaches Category:Filipino sports executives and administrators Category:People from Iloilo City Category:Philippine Basketball Association coaches Category:Philippines men's national basketball team coaches Category:University of the Philippines Diliman alumni Category:UP Fighting Maroons men's basketball players Category:UP Fighting Maroons basketball coaches