Beyond the Game

Samboy Lim was the ideal player that coaches loved to have

By Brian Yalung

The Philippine basketball community is in a state of mourning after the passing of Avelino “Samboy” Lim. “The Skywalker” died on Saturday, Dec. 23, after a long medical battle at the age of 61 years old.

Tributes poured for the former Letran Knight star coming from colleagues and friends. Someone who knew Samboy well was former Philippine national and Letran coach Larry Albano.

In a conversation from Pittsburgh before Christmas Day, the veteran coach shared a lot of stories about Samboy Lim. That included the early goings of Lim’s journey, including how he first met the 6-foot swingman when Albano was coaching the Knights back in the 80s.

Among the narratives that Albano shared included the one about Samboy going to San Beda when “The Skywalker” was still in high school. He clarified that Lim never suited up for San Beda and shared what Samboy went through at that time.

“Never donned the San Beda uniform. Hindi nangyari yon. Don siya nag-aral. Ang narrative nito, may kaya ang father niya, namatay ang tatay niya. Umalis siya ng San Beda. Nagtapos siya ng high school sa Judge Juna Luna High School sa San Francisco Del Monte sa Quezon City,” Albano said.

Samboy was rarely part of Letran’s starting unit

For most, Samboy Lim was someone who deserved to be a starter – regardless of which team he played. However, that was not the case when he was with Letran according to Albano.

“Bihira ko siya i-first five kasi may tendency siya pag first-five, maaga nagkaka-foul. Pangalawa, di ko ito makalimutan, mga ’82 to, natatalo kami because of turnovers. So sabi ko, para mabawasan ang turnover, ingatan nila ang bola. May parusa… ang mga may turnover. Umabot ata ng 5 or 6 ang kanya. Siguro nanggigil or whatever. Ang parusa ay suicides na gagawin sa practice,” Albano recalled.

The veteran coach admitted that Lim was undoubtedly one of the better players on the Knights then. Regardless, he followed the rules and never got special treatment. He never complained about punishments or anything, simply following what each player on the team had to go through.

“At that time he was one of the better players. Pero sabi ko ‘Pasensya na, usapan natin ito. Alam mo nabalitaan ko sa ibang players, sumuka. Pero alam mo, si Samboy, wala kang maririnig na complain. Siya ay coachable at very humble,” Albano recalled.

These revelations of Albano were hardly surprising since most saw it when Samboy Lim was actively playing competitive basketball. He was on and off the court due to injuries he sustained.

Samboy was among the best and exciting PBA players had

There is no doubt that Lim is one of the humblest but popular players that Philippine basketball has had. In the eyes of former coach and teammate Norman Black, Samboy Lim may have not been as popular as Robert “Sonny” Jaworski but “The Skywalker” certainly deserved to be right there with the Living Legend.

“There was a stretch where Sonny Jaworski was probably the most popular player in the league. But Samboy had to be right there with him. I mean if Samboy wasn’t the most popular, he was the best and most exciting in the league,” the veteran PBA coach said about Lim.