Jun Bernardino Trophy

The Jun Bernardino Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team that wins the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Previously known as the "Perpetual Trophy", it was created in 2006 and renamed in March 2007 in honor of former PBA commissioner Emilio "Jun" Bernardino, Jr. who served from 1994 to 2002.^[1]

Currently, there are two versions of this trophy: the first version, created in 2006, is being kept permanently by the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters after winning three straight Philippine Cups (2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13)^[2][3] The second version, commissioned in 2013, is currently in possession of the San Miguel Beermen.

History

The previous design of the All-Filipino Cup (right) used from 1994 to 2002 together with the FVR Centennial Trophy. Both trophies were awarded to the winner of the 1998 All-Filipino Cup Finals.

From its inception in 1975, the All-Filipino Conference (also known as the All-Filipino Cup from 1993 to 2003) has been considered the most prestigious tournament in a PBA season.^[4] The winners of the tournament were previously presented with trophies with varying designs depending on what season it was won. In 1994, the league standardized the design of all of its championship trophies, including the All-Filipino Cup, in which it features the Cup supported in a base where the PBA logo, the name and year of the tournament, and the name of the winning team are engraved. The trophies were designed by Angel Zamora and Sons. An additional trophy, named as the FVR Centennial Cup trophy was awarded to the champions of the 1998 edition of the tournament to commemorate the Philippine's celebration of its Centennial Independence. The 1994 design of the All-Filipino Cup was used until 2002 (a modified version of this trophy is currently being used as the design of the runner-up trophy, and was first awarded in 2013). The next season, the trophy design for the tournament varied. Then, the All-Filipino Cup was renamed as the Philippine Cup after the league revamped its tournament calendar starting the 2004-05 season.

In 2006, the league commissioned Filipino artist Ramon Orlina to design a trophy that will be named as the "Perpetual Trophy". The winners of the Philippine Cup will maintain possession of the trophy for a year, afterwards a smaller replica will be given. However, the team that will successfully defend the title for three consecutive times will permanently keep the trophy.^[5]

Before the 2012-13 season, no team has ever won the championship three times in a row in a yearly succession.^[5] The Crispa Redmanizers have won the All-Filipino Conference for four straight tournaments (1979, 1980, 1983, and 1984 First AFC), but not in consecutive years, since there were no All-Filipino tournament held for the 1981 and 1982 seasons.^[6]

In March 2007, former league commissioner Jun Bernardino died from a heart attack.^[7] As a tribute, the league renamed the Perpetual Trophy as the Jun Bernardino Trophy.^[1][8]

Description

The 2006 version of the Jun Bernardino Trophy. It is now in the possession of the TNT Tropang Texters after winning three consecutive Philippine Cups from 2011 to 2013.

The trophy is made up of 24-karat gold plate, stands at 1 metre (3.3 ft) tall and worth ₱500,000. The frame, in the shape of a basketball ring, is composed of eight panels with four designs, reflecting at opposite sides. The design consists of a basketball player dribbling, shooting or dunking the ball. The ring supports an orb, which reflects the groove lines of a basketball. A gold plated sphere is placed at the center to illuminate the optical illusion of a basketball together with the orb.^[9]

Engraved on the base of the first version of the trophy are the wordmarks of the 10 teams extant during the trophy's creation in 2006. The teams were Air21, Alaska, Barangay Ginebra, Coca-Cola, Purefoods, Red Bull, San Miguel, Sta. Lucia, Talk 'N Text and Welcoat.

For the second version, the base was engraved with the logos of the 10 teams that competed during the 2013–14 season. The teams were Air21, Alaska, Barako Bull, Barangay Ginebra, GlobalPort, Meralco, Petron Blaze, Rain or Shine, San Mig Super Coffee and Talk 'N Text.

The main difference between the first and second version of the trophy is that the second version has colorized logos engraved the base.

Winners

The first recipients of the Perpetual trophy were the Barangay Ginebra Kings, who won their best-of-seven championship series against the San Miguel Beermen in six games.^[10]

After it was won by Barangay Ginebra in 2006-07, they were unable to defend the title the next season after failing to advance through the wildcard phase of the tournament. The champions became the Sta. Lucia Realtors, in which they won their second championship in franchise history and their first All-Filipino championship against Purefoods.^[11]

Sta. Lucia failed to advance to the final round of the 2008–09 tournament, being eliminated by Alaska in their best of seven semifinal series. The trophy was eventually won by Talk 'N Text, beating Alaska in seven games.^[12]

Talk 'N Text was set to defend the title in the 2009-10 Philippine Cup but their quarterfinal series against Barangay Ginebra marred with controversy when Talk 'N Text walked-out of the playing court after protesting a "flagrant foul" call against one of their players in Game 4.^[13] Then PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios awarded the win to Barangay Ginebra, who led by seven points before the walkout occurred. Talk 'N Text were eliminated in the series-clinching Game 5. Barangay Ginebra advances to the semifinals before being swept by Alaska in four games. Purefoods then beat Alaska in the finals after sweeping their championship series.

Talk 'N Text regained possession of the trophy after winning their finals series against San Miguel in the 2010-11 Philippine Cup after six games.

The following year, Talk 'N Text retained the championship after beating the Powerade Tigers in five games. Talk 'N Text became the first team in 27 years to successfully defend the All-Filipino Cup after it was done by Great Taste in 1985.^[4]

The Tropang Texters successfully defended the championship in the 2012-13 edition of the tournament after sweeping their finals series against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. The team now keeps permanent possession of the trophy after winning the Philippine Cup for three consecutive seasons.^[2]

A second version of the trophy was created in 2013 and it was first won by the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in six games.

List of trophy holders

References