Sy family to build P1-B sports academy in Laguna

The family of taipan Henry Sy is expanding the education footprint of National University through the planned building of a P1-billion world-class sports academy in Calamba, Laguna. The family plans to open the facility by 2018.

Hans Sy, National University chair, told reporters that the board of NU had approved the establishment of the academy, which would serve as a new business. It will be a place where older sports professionals can train the next-generation athletes.

Sy said the academy would start with programs for popular sports like basketball, volleyball and tennis.

“We felt that it is something we should go into because we want to support sports development and, at the same time, help older athletes,” Sy said.

“I’m happy that the board approved it, my siblings approved it, because this is something that we believe can help the country not (only) in terms of sports development, it would be able to help put away drug issues (for the youth),” he added.

He said the facility would be built on a four-hectare property, although Sy said he was keen on buying more land for a larger facility.

“There’ll be two things. One is for the training, and the other one is for the development of professional teams, not necessarily for PBA. It may include foreign professional teams,” Sy said.

Sy said the school had yet to decide on the name of the sports academy but added that NU was open to getting partners in the future.

“This is a sole undertaking of the National University but once this is done, we can go into partnership,” Sy said.

Right now, the school is in the process of finalizing the design of the academy with its architects, Sy said.

“We have foreign consultants. We want to have international standards. In fact, we can invite even NBA teams to come over to hold their training program here,” Sy said.

The Sy family in 2008 acquired control of NU, which is located in Manila and is considered among the oldest universities in the country.