PBA honors Bernardino in ‘Hall of Fame’ rites

The Philippine Basketball Association inducts a second batch of luminaries into the PBA Hall of Fame in a solemn celebration of its 32nd anniversary on April 8 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The induction rites will be held in between the Air21-Talk n Text and Red Bull-Barangay Ginebra twinbill with league founding president Domingo Itchon, revered coach Ron Jacobs and import Norman Black leading the honorees.

The league also pays tribute to late former commissioner Emilio "Jun" Bernardino during the ceremony. The highlight of the affair is the announcement of commissioner Noli Eala naming the Philippine Cup Perpetual Trophy after the highly esteemed former league chieftain.

The Air21-Talk n Text curtain-raiser is set at 3:30 p.m., starting earlier than the usual Sunday schedule to allot proper time for the ceremony.

Itchon, Jacobs and Black were voted to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame together with team owner Danding Cojuangco, coach Dante Silverio, two-time MVP Abet Guidaben, pioneer pros Manny Paner and Danny Florencio, Tony Siddayao, the acknowledge dean of the sportswriting fraternity, and broadcaster Pinggoy Pengson.

The PBA instituted the Hall of Fame two years ago. Enshrined in the first batch were Bogs Adornado, Francis Arnaiz, Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Ramon Fernandez, Robert Jaworski, Baby Dalupan, Leo Prieto, Rudy Salud, Danny Floro, Emerson Coseteng and Joe Cantada.