Acting as team manager and No. 1 cheerleader of the cage team to the Busan joust, Bernardino leads the delegation as it leaves the country on Wednesday.
He has just returned from the United States where he attended a seminar for a therapy on his heart ailment then graced the World Basketball Championship as among the special guests of International Basketball Federation secretary-general Boris Stankovic.
But being a former coach himself, Bernardino also practically scrutinized the Chinese national team and the Lebanese squad while in action in the tourney.
And his observation? Bernardino told The STAR both the Chinese and the Lebanese can be beaten by coach Jong Uichico and his team.
He thought Lebanon is not that formidable a team compared to the RP squad but conceded the Nationals have to play very well to beat the Chinese.
"Yung Lebanon madaling ma-rattle and they are easily irritated by one another. Mukhang madalas magsisihan, and all the while, yung kalaban nagtatakbuhan na sa opensa," said Bernardino.
"On a good night, we can beat China. But we have to push Yao Ming away from the shaded lane. Iyung mga guards nila mga bata pa at madali ring ma-rattle," he added.
Aside from Ming, Bernardino was also impressed of the barrel-chested 6-foot-10 forward-center Batere Menk and 6-foot-8 hotshot Hu Wei Dong.
The outgoing PBA commissioner considered South Korea and not Lebanon as the other team outside of China which could give the RP team big trouble in Busan. "China at Korea pa rin ang problema natin," he said.
Bernardino could only flash a gentle smile as he recalled the chief of the Qatar basketball federation – in their conversation in Indianapolis – pointing to China as the only stumbling block in their bid for the Asiad crown. Alas, the Qataris failed short even in their bid to win the Arab Games championship won by the United Arab Emirates.
Filipino basketball fans have a chance to see the Qataris up close as they take on the RP team in a two-game series set at the Araneta Coliseum today and the Philsports Arena tomorrow.
The two teams may also cross paths in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games if the seedings run true to form. The Philippines is tipped to top Group C while Qatar is likely to battle Kazakhstan for top honors in Group D.