Jun Bernardino
Encyclopedia
Emilio "Jun" Bernardino, Jr. (November 9, 1947 – March 24, 2007) was the fifth commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association
(PBA). He was elected as commissioner of the league in the 1993 PBA season
and retired in the 2002 PBA season
. He served as the commissioner of the Shakey's V-League
and of the 2006-07 season
of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)
.
Blue Eaglets
basketball team and played for the University of the Philippines, Diliman
Fighting Maroons
during his collegiate days. Bernardino graduated with a degree in Sports Management at the University of the Philippines
.
In 1994, he became the fifth commissioner of the PBA replacing Rey Marquez. Bernardino presided the league during the title reigns of the Sunkist Orange Juicers
, Alaska Milkmen
and resurgence of the Ginebra San Miguel
franchise from 1994 to 1998.
in 1998, a regional-based professional league, Bernardino implemented a direct Filipino-American (Fil-Am) rule for each team for the 1999 season. This led to easy signing of players such as Asi Taulava
, Danny Seigle
and Eric Menk
. But, this led to the league entering into controversies of alleged fake Filipino-American players. The PBA had strict rules in which only Filipinos were allowed to play as locals, other nationalities were allowed to play as "imports" and only on designated tournaments, with teams only recruiting one import on their roster.
In 2000, rules were implemented on not allowing alleged Fil-Shams (non-Filipinos posing as Filipinos) to play until their cases are resolved. Two incidents happened during the season. The first one surrounded on-court controversy, as Tanduay fielded an already questioned fil-am Earl Sonny Alvarado in Games Two and Three of the All-Filipino Cup semifinal series against the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, despite the league's warning. Without Alvarado in Game 1, the Rhum Masters won and defeated Purefoods in Games 2 and 3 to sweep the series. However, with Alvarado found fake and was deported, Bernardino nullify Tanduay's two victories with Alvarado, resulting in a RTO order, later dropped, by team management.
Later that year, he suspended players indefinitely those who have not prove their Filipino citizenship that began in the 2000 Commissioners Cup. Those suspended were Danny Seigle, Chris Jackson, Rudy Hatfield and Menk, among others. However, Menk would suffer the worst as he spend more than a year to prove his case until the latter stages of the 2001 season.
and Red Bull
entered the league in 1999 and 2000, respectively, bringing the league number from eight to 10. The San Miguel Beermen
rose into power as the league's new dynasty, winning five titles in two seasons.
In 2001, Bernardino went through minor health problems and was forced to temporarily hand the reins to deputy commissioner Sonny Barrios to recuperate. In 2002, he announced that he was stepping aside as commissioner after the end of the season. His successor was Viva TV sports anchor and lawyer, Noli Eala
.
that began in 2004.
In 2006, he was the commissioner of the 82nd NCAA season
, the first time in four years he was commissioner of a basketball tournament.
He was also considered to be the executive director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
As a tribute to Bernardino, the league renamed the Perpetual Trophy, the award given to the champions of the PBA Philippine Cup
as the Jun Bernardino Trophy. All 10 teams also worn a black patch in their uniforms during the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference
as a tribute while commemorating the life and times of the late commissioner in a tribute during the PBA Hall of Fame
induction ceremony.
The Shakey's V-League also paid tribute to Bernardino during the opening rites of the tournament in May.
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
(PBA). He was elected as commissioner of the league in the 1993 PBA season
1993 PBA season
The 1993 PBA season was the 19th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable events:*The league moves to its new home, the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.*The league unveils their new logo during the opening ceremonies.*Sta...
and retired in the 2002 PBA season
2002 PBA season
-Notable occurrences:*The Tanduay Rhum Masters left the league after three seasons. Their franchise was taken over by the FedEx Express.*Republic Flour Mills sold its subsidiary COSMOS Bottlers Corporation to food company giant San Miguel Corporation. The move also absorbed the Pop Cola Panthers,...
. He served as the commissioner of the Shakey's V-League
Shakey's V-League
The Shakey's V-League is an intercollegiate women's volleyball league in the Philippines formed in 2004 under the management group led by former PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino and pizza company Shakey's...
and of the 2006-07 season
NCAA Season 82
-Awards:Elwin Pascual won the MVP award in the Juniors' division, although it was later returned after the conclusion of PCU High School's eligibility scandal.* Most Valuable Player: Elvin Pascual...
of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)
National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines)
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is an athletics association of nine colleges and universities in the Philippines. Established in 1924, the NCAA is the oldest athletic association in the Philippines...
.
Early life
Bernardino was a member of the Ateneo de Manila High SchoolAteneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
Blue Eaglets
Ateneo Blue Eagles
The Ateneo Blue Eagles is the name of the collegiate men's varsity basketball team of the Ateneo de Manila University that plays in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the premiere sports league in the country. The collegiate women's varsity basketball team is called the Lady...
basketball team and played for the University of the Philippines, Diliman
University of the Philippines, Diliman
The University of the Philippines Diliman , is a coeducational and public research university located in Quezon City, Philippines. It is the flagship university, seat of administration, and the fourth oldest constituent university of the University of the Philippines System...
Fighting Maroons
UP Fighting Maroons
The Fighting Maroons is the name of the collegiate men's varsity teams of the University of the Philippines Diliman. The collegiate women's varsity teams are called the Lady Maroons. They compete in all of the sports of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines . The University of the...
during his collegiate days. Bernardino graduated with a degree in Sports Management at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
.
Personal life
He was left his wife children Stephanie, Rishi, Nolan and Marga, Vera and Kristine.Early days
Bernardino rose through the ranks of the Philippine Basketball Association during the 1970s and 1980s. At first, he was with the coverage team of Vintage Sports and later became the Executive Director of the league.In 1994, he became the fifth commissioner of the PBA replacing Rey Marquez. Bernardino presided the league during the title reigns of the Sunkist Orange Juicers
Pop Cola Panthers
The Pop Cola Panthers is a former Philippine Basketball Association team from 1990-2001 under the ownership of Cosmos Bottling Corporation, a subsidiary of RFM Corporation. Cosmos was sold to Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., then-owned by San Miguel Corporation in 2001 which also includes the...
, Alaska Milkmen
Alaska Aces (PBA)
The Alaska Aces is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of the Alaska Milk Corporation and the owner of 13 PBA championships with the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference as their latest...
and resurgence of the Ginebra San Miguel
Ginebra San Miguel
Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. is a Philippines-based diversified alcoholic beverage company owned by San Miguel Corporation, then called La Tondeña Distillers, Inc. from 1987 to 2003. Founded originally by the late Carlos Palanca, Sr. as La Tondeña, Inc...
franchise from 1994 to 1998.
Fil-Ams and Fil-Sham controversy
However, with the rise of the newly formed Metropolitan Basketball AssociationMetropolitan Basketball Association
The Metropolitan Basketball Association or Metroball was a professional basketball league in the Philippines founded in 1998.The MBA overtook the Philippine Basketball Association's plans on regionalization when the league adopted a home-and-away format where teams, instead of representing...
in 1998, a regional-based professional league, Bernardino implemented a direct Filipino-American (Fil-Am) rule for each team for the 1999 season. This led to easy signing of players such as Asi Taulava
Asi Taulava
Pauliasi M. Taulava also known as Asi Taulava is a American-born Filipino-Tongan professional basketball player playing in the Philippines for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association....
, Danny Seigle
Danny Seigle
Daniel Charles Seigle is a Filipino American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barako Bull Energy. A 6'6", 205-lb. swingman, he is fondly called Dynamite Danny and Danny S. by many...
and Eric Menk
Eric Menk
Eric Conrad Menk is a Filipino-American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barangay Ginebra Kings...
. But, this led to the league entering into controversies of alleged fake Filipino-American players. The PBA had strict rules in which only Filipinos were allowed to play as locals, other nationalities were allowed to play as "imports" and only on designated tournaments, with teams only recruiting one import on their roster.
In 2000, rules were implemented on not allowing alleged Fil-Shams (non-Filipinos posing as Filipinos) to play until their cases are resolved. Two incidents happened during the season. The first one surrounded on-court controversy, as Tanduay fielded an already questioned fil-am Earl Sonny Alvarado in Games Two and Three of the All-Filipino Cup semifinal series against the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, despite the league's warning. Without Alvarado in Game 1, the Rhum Masters won and defeated Purefoods in Games 2 and 3 to sweep the series. However, with Alvarado found fake and was deported, Bernardino nullify Tanduay's two victories with Alvarado, resulting in a RTO order, later dropped, by team management.
Later that year, he suspended players indefinitely those who have not prove their Filipino citizenship that began in the 2000 Commissioners Cup. Those suspended were Danny Seigle, Chris Jackson, Rudy Hatfield and Menk, among others. However, Menk would suffer the worst as he spend more than a year to prove his case until the latter stages of the 2001 season.
Latter years
In Bernardino's latter years in the PBA, two expansion franchises, TanduayTanduay Rhum Masters
The Tanduay Rhum Masters is a former Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association , Philippine Basketball Association and Philippine Basketball League basketball team.-History:...
and Red Bull
Red Bull Barako
The Barako Bull Energy Boosters was a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association that is owned by the Photokina Marketing Corporation...
entered the league in 1999 and 2000, respectively, bringing the league number from eight to 10. The San Miguel Beermen
San Miguel Beermen
The Petron Blaze Boosters is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team has been a member of the league since its inception in 1975 and hold the most PBA titles with 19.The team is owned by the Petron Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippines' largest food...
rose into power as the league's new dynasty, winning five titles in two seasons.
In 2001, Bernardino went through minor health problems and was forced to temporarily hand the reins to deputy commissioner Sonny Barrios to recuperate. In 2002, he announced that he was stepping aside as commissioner after the end of the season. His successor was Viva TV sports anchor and lawyer, Noli Eala
Noli Eala
Jose Emmanuel M. Eala, better known as Noli Eala, was the sixth commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association from 2003 to 2007. Before he became the commissioner of the league, he was a play-by-play commentator of Viva-Vintage Sports, which broadcasts the PBA Games, from the early 1990s...
.
After the PBA
In 2004, Bernardino, along with Ricky Palou and other former PBA executives, formed Sports Vision Management and was responsible for the formation of the school-themed Shakey's V-LeagueShakey's V-League
The Shakey's V-League is an intercollegiate women's volleyball league in the Philippines formed in 2004 under the management group led by former PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino and pizza company Shakey's...
that began in 2004.
In 2006, he was the commissioner of the 82nd NCAA season
NCAA Season 82
-Awards:Elwin Pascual won the MVP award in the Juniors' division, although it was later returned after the conclusion of PCU High School's eligibility scandal.* Most Valuable Player: Elvin Pascual...
, the first time in four years he was commissioner of a basketball tournament.
He was also considered to be the executive director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Death
Bernardino died at 1:30 a.m. on March 24, 2007 from a heart attack after organizing a surprise birthday celebration for Philippine basketball pioneer Moying Martelino.As a tribute to Bernardino, the league renamed the Perpetual Trophy, the award given to the champions of the PBA Philippine Cup
PBA Philippine Cup
The Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup is the award given at PBA's all-Filipino conference. The tournament does not allow teams to hire foreign players or imports. Prior to 2004-05 season, the tournament was then known as the PBA All-Filipino Cup...
as the Jun Bernardino Trophy. All 10 teams also worn a black patch in their uniforms during the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference
2007 PBA Fiesta Conference
-Barangay Ginebra-San Miguel series:-Talk 'N Text-Air21 series:-Red Bull-Talk 'N Text series:-Alaska-San Miguel series:-Third-place playoff:-Finals:Prior to Game 1, Sandwich performed "Laban kung Laban," the TV theme song of the PBA....
as a tribute while commemorating the life and times of the late commissioner in a tribute during the PBA Hall of Fame
PBA Hall of Fame
The Philippine Basketball Association Hall of Fame is an institution that honors selected former players and personalities of the Philippine Basketball Association. It was launched in 2005 during the Reunion Game pitting two teams consisting of the PBA's 25th Anniversary All-Time Team...
induction ceremony.
The Shakey's V-League also paid tribute to Bernardino during the opening rites of the tournament in May.