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Personal musings on Samboy Lim

Samboy Lim during one of his basketball camps. (Facebook)
Samboy Lim during one of his basketball camps. (Facebook)

No, the man they call “The Skywalker” has not yet left this earth. As of this writing, we were informed that he is still fighting, battling, in what is undoubtedly his toughest struggle ever. That says a lot after struggling through a seemingly endless road of injuries throughout an otherwise spectacular basketball career. He never completed a full season in the PBA because of his many aches and pains, breaks and strains. It if wasn’t one joint, it might have been a bone or a muscle, that kept him out of action for extended periods of time. Every time, though, he would come back and thrill the crowd, at least until the next ailment or injury arrived.

Thinking about it, maybe that’s why Samboy was still able to draw crowds whenever he played in the “legends” games, where he and some of his contemporaries would continue to perform.  While most of the other players would be several steps slow, with less hair and more girth, Samboy seemed to be the most physically fit of them all. He never stopped working out, pumping iron, and maintained his leaping ability even as most of his former teammates and opponents had long been earth-bound.

He even got better at shooting three-pointers that, instead of driving to the hoop as he was more popularly known to do, he would “settle” for threes during these exhibition games and hit more than a few. Since we did not get the chance to see him as often as we liked during his career, mainly due to his frequent stints on the injured list, we still want to see him do his thing every time we are given the chance.

That he suddenly collapsed during one such game among former pros on 28 November 2014 says a lot of things. It’s clear he still so loves the game of basketball that he has not stopped playing it, even though the pace might be a little slower than it used to be.

He made solid friendships with his former teammates and opponents as he would rarely pass up an invitation to participate in the exhibition games, which sometimes would take him and the rest of them to different provinces all over the Philippines and even to destinations abroad, where our Filipino brethren would come out in droves just to see their idols from yesteryear, especially the man who walked on air. He loves the fans. He loves to perform for them, show them he can still get up, twist and turn in mid-air, hang around while the rest of the players watched him, and hit the basket. He is a circus acrobat, with the basketball court as his big top. Entertainment, even if not on purpose, is his on-court expertise.

The star power of Avelino “Samboy” Lim surged from the collegiate ranks where he played for Letran, into his stint as a member of the national team backed by Northern Consolidated Cement, and then into the pros where he walked on air for PBA fans as a San Miguel Beerman. When pro cagers were finally allowed to play in the 1990 Asian Games, he cherished the opportunity and made the most of it by showing the entire Asia that at least one Filipino player could fly between, over, and around defenders.

Samboy Lim (3rd from right) and other members of the all-pro men's basketball team to the 1990 Asian Games. (Photo courtesy of Ronnie Magsanoc)
Samboy Lim (3rd from right) and other members of the all-pro men's basketball team to the 1990 Asian Games. (Photo courtesy of Ronnie Magsanoc)



His mannerism of messing up the front of his hair before taking a free throw during the 1990 Asiad caught everyone’s attention – he had never done that in the PBA. – and soon, we were all copying it before we took a shot of our own at the court in our village park.  That was something of Samboy’s that we could all copy, since not many of us could soar like he could. While the Philippines settled for a silver medal, Samboy was named to the mythical five, in an era where so many other Asian hoops players were practically household names. There was no injury that held him back then, and he showed what he could do yet again, when completely healthy.

After he finally called it quits from the PBA, he remained a regular site at PBA games.  He just couldn’t leave. As a team executive for Ginebra he would get as much attention as any of the current stars, if not more, when he would enter the court, often side by side with his buddy, the Triggerman Allan Caidic. Fans would call out, “Idol!”, and he would wave at them and smile.  Soft-spoken and gentle, he would call all of the PBA commentators “sir”, even if it is we who would get awestruck each time we would encounter him.

After I commentated on the first game of the PBA doubleheader last Friday, I was out with friends when I learned what happened. Of course, the seriousness of the situation was not yet apparent, as the news came in bits and pieces. Colleagues and other members of the PBA community started posting on social media, and friends began sending queries via text message, asking if I knew anything about it. I was as uninformed as they all were, yet all I wanted was to hear good news.

After four days, apparently the situation has not changed much. Samboy is still in the hospital and has not regained consciousness. Apparently, Samboy, with the chiseled physique, the generous smile, and the ability to walk in the air, has indeed been grounded, but hopefully only temporarily.  The response of the basketball community, which includes the millions of fans all over, has been overwhelming. #PrayersforSamboy have come aplenty since he lost consciousness, and, hopefully, they will be answered.

A humble man, Samboy did not speak much, and I remember he gave short, quiet, straight-to-the-point answers whenever he was interviewed, many times because he was the Best Player of the Game. But his game, the way he played, spoke volumes, impacting the Filipino basketball fans in a way that, perhaps, no other Filipino player ever will again.  We should all continue to pray that Samboy’s condition improves, while acknowledging that our Creator is in charge and knows what is best. After all, Samboy made us smile and uplifted us countless times.  It’s our turn to reciprocate.

(Please also include Jonas Mariano, former DLSU player and son of Philippine basketball star and former PBA coach, Jimmy Mariano, in your thoughts, as Jonas is also ill and in need of prayers and support.)

You can follow Charlie on Twitter @Charlie C.