By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Prayers and tributes poured almost non-stop on social media following the passing of Philippine basketball icon Samboy Lim on Saturday, Dec. 23, after a long health battle. He was 61.
PBA greats and former teammates Allan Caidic and Ramon Fernandez, San Miguel Beer in the PBA and the NCAA released separate statements that extolled his legendary career on the hard court.
“Paalam partner. SKY high and WALK into the arms of our Lord. Rest in paradise. Thank you for the friendship!” wrote Caidic on social media.
“So long, Sam! Your soul lives on in the people you touched. You will forever be in our hearts,” Fernandez also wrote on social media.
Lim had many monikers, but the one that best described his kind of basketball was “The Skywalker” for no one was daring and graceful enough as the former Letran sensation.
The PBA, where Lim played from 1986 to 1997 with the San Miguel Beermen, also showed support to the family and friends of the late legend.
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, loved ones and friends of the legendary Avelino ‘Samboy’ Lim,” the statement read.
“The PBA mourns the loss of a true icon, a player whose contributions to the league have left an indelible mark on the hearts of basketball enthusiasts across the nation… His all-out play and boundless heart were not just attributes on the basketball court; they were a testament to the passion and dedication he brought to the sport. Samboy’s legacy spans generations, contributing significantly to the popularity and growth of the PBA,” it added.
San Miguel Beermen, the only team where Lim played for throughout his professional career, also mourned the loss of their beloved former athlete.
“Paalam, ‘The Skywalker’. Ang buong team ng San Miguel Beermen ay nakikiramay sa pamilya ng nag-iisang Samboy Lim. Hindi malilimutan ng mga fans ang iyong ambag sa Philippine basketball,” the team’s social media post read.
Letran, where Lim launched his legendary career, winning three NCAA championships and an MVP Award, also paid tribute in a social media post Sunday, Dec. 24.
“We pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Avelino ‘Samboy’ Lim Jr., our beloved Letran Knight and a basketball legend who graced the courts with brilliance and left an indelible mark on Philippine sports,” the statement read.
“The NCAA joins the basketball community in remembering the life of Samboy Lim, one of the greatest Filipino basketball players of our time,” said NCAA Management Committee chair Paul Supan of Season 99 host Jose Rizal University on behalf of the league.
“He was an exemplary athlete from the time he played in the NCAA up to his stint in the national team and in the pros. He was an inspiration and model for most, if not all, who have seen him play,” he added.
“Our hearts mourn the loss of a true icon. Rest in peace, Letran Knight Samboy.”
Lim’s health had been an issue during his playing days after suffering numerous injuries but it took its toll in November 2014 after collapsing just minutes after coming out of a PBA Legends exhibition game at the Ynares Center in Pasig. He slipped in and out of coma and it was only in January 2015 that he was brought home where he would continue to receive treatment and therapy until he breathed his last.
