By REYNALD MAGALLON
One could easily see and distinguish Samboy Lim on the hard court, what with his knee-high socks, well-trimmed mustache and iconic No. 9 jersey.
With his extra-ordinary ability to soar, glide and maneuver – not to mention his excellent demeanor off the court – Lim became one of the biggest stars of the PBA, adored by cage fans old and young.
To many, he was “The Skywaker” for his gravity-defying aerial acrobatics.
Small wonder, Lim emerged one of the most well-loved players of his time, was an icon, not just because of his play on the hardcourt but also how gentle and mild-mannered he was on and off the court.
Letran Great and national team mainstay
Lim started to make a name for himself in the collegiate ranks when he helped Letran complete a three-peat in the NCAA from 1982 to 1984. Even as a rookie, Lim proved to be a vital cog to the Knights campaign before formally taking the lead in his final year where he finally won a Most Valuable Player plum after a pair of runner-up finishes in the first two seasons.
It was also at this time when Lim was also a part of the RP Youth team and eventually the national team then under legendary coach Ron Jacobs. He immediately proved that he belonged to the big league when the Northern Consolidated squad played as a guest team in the PBA and played heavy minutes for the team.
It was also with the team where he would win two Southeast Asian Games gold medals, a Jones Cup crown and one ABC championship in 1985. In 1986, he was part of the Philippine national team that bagged the bronze medal in the Asian Games.
The Legend of the Skywalker
Lim is an athletic 6-foot-1 wing man who can glide through the air. He was not the highest of leapers back in his prime, but somehow he managed to stay in the air a little longer than his defenders and executed the craftiest of finishes.
Then, the legend of the man who walks in the skies was born. Lim’s career – and his popularity – soared to greater heights in the PBA when he was part of San Miguel Beer. He would become a vital part of the Beermen’s Grand Slam year in 1989 and went on to win a total of nine championships in his 12 years with the team.
During those years, he became a five-time All-Star, a two-time All-Star MVP, a two-time second Mythical team member.
With the type of play that he has, injuries did take toll on him, slowing him down through the year eventually leading to his retirement in the professional league, depriving the fans to see more of his highlight plays.
But that did not take away the indelible mark he left in the league, becoming a PBA Hall of Famer in 2009 and was part of the PBA’s 25 and 40 Greatest Players. His No.9 jersey was retired by the SMB franchise.
Good player but an even greater man
A menace for defenders, the only way to slow Lim down was to play him physical and, at times, give cheap shots. He was a favorite recipient of slaps, elbows and even hits that would cause him some bad falls.
But Lim never retaliated nor talked trash. He hardly celebrated even after the most difficult shots and mocked his opponents. He just played ball. He was competitive on the court but a friends to enemies outside of it
Being set an example, Lim was the recipient of the league’s very first sportsmanship award. The award, being handed out by the league every season, is also named after him – a testament to how great of a man he is.
He was, after all, coined as the quintessential Filipino basketball player of his generation.
On Saturday, Dec. 23, news broke out about Lim’s passing. Friends, former teammates and foes, the PBA and the rest of the Philippine basketball mourned the loss of a legend, a true icon of the sport in this basketball-crazy nation.
Looking back at his years as player, with Letran, with the national team and the San Miguel Beer in the PBA, the Philippine basketball truly lost one of its greatest talents to have witnessed, a player who has soared and walked through the “sky” during the highs of his career but remained grounded as ever.
