Student-athletes urged to apply for NAS admission

MANILA – The Philippines’ feat at the recently concluded Tokyo 2020 Olympics should inspire talented students to follow the footsteps of national athletes by applying for admission at the National Academy of Sports (NAS).

Established through Republic Act No. 11470, NAS aims to identify and promote academically competent and athletically talented natural-born Filipino youth from all sectors of society, including indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones lauded the gallant efforts of gold medalist weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, and bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, also a boxer.

Equally commendable are the 15 others who made it to the quadrennial Games, Briones said.

“The victories and triumphs of our Olympians prove that the Philippines has lot to offer in the field of sports. This is also the reason why the Department (of Education) wants more learners to be trained at the National Academy of Sports,” said Briones, who is also the NAS Board chair.

In collaboration with the Philippine Sports Commission, NAS is currently conducting its Annual Search for Competent, Exceptional, Notable, and Talented Student-Athletes Scholars (NASCENT SAS), which will determine the first batch of scholars of the institution.

The application for NASCENT SAS for School Year 2021-2022 is extended until Aug. 14.

Paalam, Marcial, Carlos Yulo (gymnastics), Kurt Barbosa (taekwondo), Ernest John Obiena (pole vault), and Cris Nievarez (rowing) were once student-athletes who competed in the annual Palarong Pambansa, the Department’s national multi-sports event for grade school and secondary students.

“We encourage our young athletes to apply for Student-Scholarship at NAS. This will help them be more exposed in their chosen sports while enhancing their academic performance,” Briones added. (PR)