Jun (Lyle M.) Ross Jr. (July 14, 1949–November 24, 2009) is a Filipino former basketball player. He was born to Lyle Ross Sr. (an American soldier of Scottish descent who served in the Philippines during World War 2) and Maddamou (a Philippine native). Lyle is often referred to and remembered lovingly as "Jun". He is a noted player of the

Ateneo Blue Eagles The Ateneo Blue Eagles are the collegiate varsity teams of the Ateneo de Manila University that play in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the premiere collegiate league in the Philippines. The Ateneo collegiate ...

basketball team. He graduated from Ateneo de Manila University in 1971. He was a member of the 1971

MICAA The Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) was a sports association which existed in Manila, Philippines from 1938 to 1981. Throughout its existence, it staged various sports and was participated by prominent Philippine c ...

Meralco commercial league Basketball team. He emigrated to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

in the early 1970s where he held a variety of business jobs in both

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

and

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. He passed on to eternal life on November 24, 2009, after a long battle with lung cancer. He had two children Richard Ross and Megan M. Ross (born 1988).

Ateneo days

Lyle Ross Jr. started his basketball career as co-captain of the Ateneo Midgets who held a record of 24–1. From 1963 to 1967, he was a member of the Ateneo Juniors, as co-captain they won the NCAA championship with an undefeated record. In 1966 and 1967 he was a part of the NCAA Juniors Mythical Five. During his college years he was a member of the senior Blue Eagle team for his four years at Ateneo de Manila University. He was part of the NCAA selection for two years. Considered by many alumni as the strongest team Ateneo has ever assembled, Lyle, was part of the 1969 NCAA champion team. Though his main focus was basketball, Jun also participated in cross-country where in high school he was a two time champion. He was a member of the track and field from 1964 to 1971. He participated and won medals in the long jump, high jump, triple jump, 4 x 100 relay, and 4 x 400 relay. Over-all he won a total of 16 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals in the

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

track and field competitions. As a basketball member, Jun wore the number 7 through his years at Ateneo.

Later life

Jun played for the

Meralco basketball in 1971; a team which was sponsored by 7-UP. During that year the team won the MICAA Championship. After emigrating to the United States, Jun hung up his basketball shoes and started a professional life as a business man. He managed several businesses in both New Jersey and California. He was inducted into the Ateneo de Manila Sports Hall of Fame on December 8, 2000, at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center (Philippines).

Personal life

Lyle was married in the Philippines and had one child, a son named Richard before emigrating to the United States. After leaving the Philippines he settled down on the East Coast primarily in New Jersey. In 1985 he married a long-time girlfriend Jan and in 1988 had a baby girl named Megan. In the early 1990s Jan and Lyle divorced and he married Jane Alcala to whom he remained married to until his death. In 2000, he relocated to California with his wife Jane, stepdaughter Grace, and grandson Christian. Though thousands of miles away from his homeland, Lyle still remained a true Blue Eagle fan. He recounted his days at Ateneo often and fondly. He was honored to be a part of the Ateneo Sports Hall of Fame and stayed in touch with many of his former teammates and classmates. He battled lung cancer for over a year until he succumbed to his death on November 24, 2009. He was surrounded by his family at this time and left this world in Peace. He flies highs among us now and leaves behind a great sports legacy and family that loves him dearly. He is survived by his wife Jane, his daughter Megan, his son Richard.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Jun 1949 births 2009 deaths Filipino men's basketball players Ateneo Blue Eagles men's basketball players Deaths from lung cancer 20th-century Filipino sportsmen