NCAA saddened by loss of commissioner

If he had not passed away, Jun Bernardino would have been commissioner of the NCAA basketball tournament for the second straight year.

"The reason our theme for this year is Soaring High at 83 is because we want to continue the success of last year and commissioner Jun Bernardino was a big part of that," said newly named NCAA Management Committee chairman Paul Supan.

"He would have anchored that continuity we’re planning if this hadn’t happened," added Supan.

Supan, who has taken over from Henry Atayde of last year’s host St. Benilde, said the league is saddened by Bernardino’s demise.

"The whole NCAA is saddened by the loss of a great leader, person and brother in basketball," said Supan.

Bernardino’s official appointment would have come right after the NCAA holds a planning session March 27-29 in Binangonan, Rizal.