Jun Bernardino eyes basketball ‘grandslam’

Grand Slam: Jun Bernardino, the Philippine Basketball Association commissioner and team manager of the RP squad competing in Busan, is eyeing his own version of the grand slam.

But it’s not the same kind of feat rarely scored in the pro league Jun B has masterfully handled over the last nine years, mainly because it involves the three different teams close to the commissioner’s heart.

The first two parts of the grand slam have been completed, with the University of the Philippines bagging the juniors title and Ateneo winning the seniors crown – both in the UAAP.

Jun B, if you don’t know, played for the Ateneo high school squad and was a former member of the UP varsity team. He also coached the UP Maroons in the UAAP and once served as team manager of the team.

"Kumpleto na ang dalawa – UP at Ateneo. So, isa na lang, grand slam na. Sa Oct. 14 dadating yung huli," Jun B, smiling, said last Saturday as he tendered a dinner for the RP media group in a Chinese restaurant playing U2 music.

Of course, Oct. 14, a Sunday, is the day the basketball finals will be played.

Well-Oiled Machine: The Philippine Bowling Congress being provided with the electronic machine being used to measure the amount of oil applied on the lanes is the key to success – not only in this 14th Asian Games but, hopefully, in other international competitions as well.

"It’s very crucial for us that we got the machine with the help of the Philippine Sports Commission," said PBC president Steve Hontiveros last Saturday, the day after the doubles team of Paeng Nepomuceno and RJ Bautista won the gold at the Homeplus Asiad Bowling Alley here.

It was the first gold for the Philippines in this Asiad, and the first in bowling since 1986 when Bong Coo ruled both the singles and all-events in Seoul.

The machine cost $40,000.

The oiling of lanes in the Asian Games is being handled by an independent body and the participating countries are being informed of the exact amount of oil to be applied months before the competition.

Therefore, our bowlers can actually train and practice under the same condition unlike before where they head for the battle practically unaware of the lane conditions.

"That’s the purpose. If there’s a change in the condition, it’s very minimal. Medyo madali na mag-adjust. And it also helps that an independent body was tapped to do the oiling, and not the hosts," Hontiveros added.

Flying High: News of Ateneo winning the UAAP crown at the expense of bitter rival La Salle spread like wildfire among the RP delegation in this South Korean port city Saturday night.

A lot of phone calls were either made or received by those closely following the series but, in the end, probably the happiest among the Filipinos here was Olsen Racela, a former Ateneo cager and the starting pointguard of the national team.

Racela quickly engaged Boyzie Zamar, a former UE Warrior who is now part of the RP coaching staff, in some good-natured ribbing with the former "thanking" the latter for UE’s back-to-back losses to Ateneo in the Final Four.

Elmer Yanga, who took up accounting in UE, wasn’t too concerned with the issue as he is still waiting for the arrival of RFM big boss and die-hard La Sallian Joey Concepcion in time for the basketball semis.

"What I know is that he’ll be coming in on the 10th or 11th. But now I’m not even sure if he’s still coming kasi nga natalo ang La Salle. Baka devastated," joked Yanga, the amiable former RFM team manager.

Probably waiting to sympathize with Joey C., if and when he comes in, is Philippine Olympic Committee president Cito Dayrit, a La Sallian himself.