MANILA, Philippines — The pioneering Best Center (Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center) will still accept enrollees in its Saturday-only classes at the Ateneo covered courts in Katipunan until Saturday, July 9.

The Ateneo clinics, to be held under the auspices of former national coach and Best Center founder Nic Jorge, are scheduled for 8:30-11:30 am also starting July 9. Introduction to Basketball Levels 1, 2 and 3 are being offered to Ateneo clinic enrollees.

Meanwhile, Xavier School will host the Best Center for its afternoon sessions (1-4 pm) for students enrolled in Levels 1-3 also beginning April 9. Classes at the Starmall Alabang, however, are suspended on July 10 and 24 due to events scheduled earlier by the gym owners.

Classes will resume on July 17 from 1-4 pm. Enrollees are still accepted for Levels 1-3 until July 17 for classes that will end Sept. 4, instead of Aug. 28 as earlier announced.

Pascua rules Laoag Milo run

Reynaldo Pascua and Mercy Taypoc humbled the opposition to rule the men’s and women’s divisions in the Laoag leg of the 35th National Milo Marathon Sunday.

Pascua, the pride of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte negotiated the 21K contest in one hour, 16 minutes and 22 seconds to win the opening leg of the longest running event in the country.

Taypoc, on the other hand, clocked 1:36.24. Both Pascua and Taypoc pocketed P10,000 each aside from earning slots to the Manila National Finals on Dec. 11. Jay Viloria, a running buddy of Pascua, finished second in 1:16.33 (P6,000) while Edison Melchor placed third in 1:20:54 and pocketed P4,000. Sandi Menchi Abahan submitted 1:47:05 while Anna Liza Maraan clocked 1:55:39 to finish second and third, respectively.

Baseball All-star

Batangas Bulls' Justin Zialcita blasted a two-run homerun in the seventh-and-last inning as the Red Team defeated the Blue Team, 7-5, in Sunday's Pepsi Baseball Philippines Fil-Am Friendship Day All-Star Game at the Alabang Country Club.

With the game tied at 5-all with one out with Bulls teammate SJ San Juan on first, Zialcita smashed a one-ball, two-strike pitch of Blue pitcher and Cebu Dolphins' Richard Gamble to left field.

Zialcita's smash cleared the fence to put the Reds ahead for good. Manila Sharks' hurler Jonjon Robles closed out the Blues in the bottom half to win this exhibition game marking the friendship between the Philippines and the United States Zialcita finished with a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBIs. —Jonas Terrado

Serbian ace gets hero's welcome

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Novak Djokovic received a rapturous welcome in Serbia on Monday following his triumph at Wimbledon and on his first day as the world's top-ranked tennis player. Tens of thousands of fans chanted Djokovic's nickname “Nole, Nole” as they gathered in front of the national assembly building in downtown Belgrade at a boisterous welcoming ceremony.

“You made this day the best day of my life,” Djokovic told the screaming crowd of mostly young people as he held a replica of the Wimbledon trophy that is given to the winners to keep.

“The Best Tennis Player in the World,” said a sign on the stage erected in front of the assembly building. Djokovic officially overtook Rafael Nadal as the No. 1-ranked player Monday after beating the Spaniard 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 Sunday in the Wimbledon final.

Indians spoil return of Jeter

CLEVELAND (AFP) — Austin Kearns blasted his first home run of the season to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 6-3 win over New York, spoiling the return of all-star Derek Jeter to the Yankees' lineup on Monday.

Jeter, who batted leadoff in the order, went hitless in his first game since being sidelined June 13 with a calf injury. He continues his quest to reach 3,000 career hits but didn't get it done Monday going zero-for-four and reaching base on a Cleveland error.

The Yankees' captain was named to his 12th all-star team Sunday. He needs a half dozen more hits to become the 28th major leaguer to reach 3,000.