Caidic, Bernardino head Hall of Fame honorees

MANILA, Philippines - The greatest three-point shooter in Philippine Basketball Association history, the league’s longest-serving commissioner, now departed, and an import nonpareil lead the third batch of inductees to the 2009 Hall of Fame Awards Friday at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

To be honored at 7 p.m. are the late Emilio “Jun” Bernardino, who passed away in 2004 after steering the league through generally placid though at times turbulent waters for nearly eight seasons, and five of the most electrifying players the PBA has ever seen.

Allan Caidic, who holds the record of most three-point shots converted in a single game (17), will join former San Miguel Beer teammates Samboy Lim and Hector Calma, as well as former SMB superstar Ricardo Brown and seven-time best import awardee Bobby Parks.

Also up for induction is former PBA chairman Carlos “Honeyboy” Palanca III.

The Hall of Fame, which honors selected former players and personalities of the PBA, was launched in 2005 during the Reunion Game pitting two teams made up of the league’s 25th Anniversary All-Time Team.

The initial batch was a virtual Who’s Who in Philippine basketball -– Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Fortunato Co, Philip Cezar, William ‘Bogs’ Adornado, Francis Arnaiz, legendary coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan, founding commissioner Leo Prieto, founding chairman Emerson Coseteng, former commissioner Rodrigo “Rudy” Salud, Crispa team owner Danny Floro, and TV play-by-play sportscaster Joe Cantada.