Years ago, a basketball court in a tranquil middle-class neighborhood in Quezon City captivated a modest audience as an emerging basketball talent showcased his skills, effortlessly sinking hoops and executing captivating maneuvers, much to the delight of the spectators.
Avelino “Samboy” Lim Jr., was a regular shooter at Barangay West Triangle Basketball Court in Diliman, Quezon City sometime in the early 1980s. He played afternoon hoops with childhood friends, Justino “Tino” Pinat and Restituto “Restie” Pinat.
Not long after, Lim and Tino Pinat became Letran’s crowd-drawing duo beginning in 1983 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
In 1977, then 15-year-old Lim’s sky-walking feat was discovered on the courts of nearby Phil-Am Life Homes by former basketball player turned coach, Domingo “Jun” Celis, wife of sports columnist Beth Celis, whose daughters were also into the sport.
Lim’s athletic prowess earned him valuable scholarships, a timely support considering the untimely passing of his father, Dr. Avelino B. Lim Sr., due to coronary thrombosis, coinciding with Samboy’s entry into high school at San Beda College in Manila.
Tino and Restie Pinat fondly recall Samboy’s visiting days at Barangay West Triangle, particularly when the young Skywalker would stay overnight at the Pinat family’s home.
CLEANING CARS
Restie Pinat recalls Samboy staying with them at their residence on Times Street, Barangay West Triangle, “We used to clean our cars together outside the house, that’s why the neighbors and passersby see us.”
“Then we coached together with Tino (Pinat) at the Skywalker’s Basketball Camp in 2005,” recalls the 5-7 Restie, an avid amateur cager.
In partnership with the Pinat brothers and his teammates, Samboy began giving basketball training classes and summer camps. His training regimen and modules focused on ball handling, dribbling, passing, shooting, lay-ups, and defense.
In 2010, the Samboy Lim Player Development Academy was created. Enrollment was highly successful, especially for the summer basketball camps. Unfortunately, the program was discontinued when he suffered a heart attack in November 2014.
Barangay West Triangle chairman Timmy Ligon said it was Tino Pinat who regularly accompanies Samboy to the Barangay West Triangle basketball court, especially during off seasons of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Ligon is thinking of naming the neighborhood basketball court West Triangle – Samboy Lim Memorial Basketball Court or the Skywalker’s Court, in memory of the Skywalker. Also, plans are afoot to name the street after the multi-awarded cager.
SAMBOY’S SECRET
The secret to Samboy Lim’s sky-walking ability was revealed.
Tino Pinat said Samboy would sneak out of his regular practices with team San Miguel Beer (SMB), especially when the latter was recovering from his injuries in the PBA hardcourt, including that bloody and nasty bad fall in 1989.
In that game between SMB and Purefoods on July 18, 1989, the Skywalker was up in the air behind Jojo Lastimosa when opponents Nelson Asaytono and Jerry Codiñera sandwiched him. Lim crashed hard with his head hitting the floor first. Blood oozed from the badly injured high-jumping Beerman.
Pinat’s house is a few blocks away from the late former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., whose wife and son later became Philippine Presidents.
“So, when Samboy and I do some practice one-on-one games at the Barangay West Triangle Basketball Court (BWTBC), the neighborhood children would play, and shoot hoops with us,” recounts Pinat. Among those kids and residents joining or watching them then were a young Abac Cordero (now a sportswriter), then sportscaster Dick Ildefonso and the late jukebox king Victor Wood.
BWTBC is in a quiet neighborhood. It is surrounded by middle-class houses, located beside the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish Church and Barangay Hall. Back in the day, there used to be coconut trees surrounding the basketball court and later, it became a covered court. A sari-sari (variety) store nearby is still serving thirsty players for a very long time.
From nearby Philam Homes where Samboy resides, some of the neighbors would see him playing at the neighborhood basketball court. These include sports columnist Beth Celis, her son Raymond, and Zaldy Ravelo, son of Darna creator Mars Ravelo.
“However, all secret practices are at West Triangle because all our mutual friends are there. Samboy feels at home in our neighborhood,” says Pinat. Both Lim and Pinat are B.S. Management graduates at Letran.
HARD-EARNED MVP TROPHY
After high school in San Beda, Samboy spent a year’s residence at Colegio San Juan de Letran before finally seeing action in the NCAA in 1982.
Even as a first-year varsity player, Samboy was already a vital cog of Letran’s championship team. He would have won the NCAA Most Valuable Player award if not for his teammate, Jerry Gonzales, late season push and heroics in Letran’s last two games which won for the latter the coveted plum.
In 1983, Lim was again frustrated in his bid for an MVP award as another teammate, Romeo Ang, edged him out as Most Valuable Player.
Samboy was all set to join the Northern Consolidated squad of coach Ron Jacobs even before the start of the 1984 NCAA tournament but he begged for a grace period so he could play in the collegiate league.
Samboy finally won the NCAA MVP trophy as he led the Knights to a grand slam, their third straight NCAA seniors’ championships from 1982 to 1984, under Coach Larry Albano.
The Skywalker became a player of the Philippine Basketball Association and was a many-time member of the national team in the 1980s and ‘90s.
As a high-flying wing, he distinguished himself with his flamboyant and often dangerous forays to the basket, punctuated by acrobatic shots, hang-time moves, or slam dunks.
PRO-HOOPS DAYS
A five-time All-Star and two-time PBA Mythical Team selection, he did not however win a Most Valuable Player Award because he did not get to complete a full season due to the many injuries he sustained on the court.
In 1986, Lim joined San Miguel Beermen, the only PBA Team he played for in his entire 11-year professional career. He made his pro debut on October 7, 1986, as Magnolia scored their first win against Alaska after three straight losses.
Lim was injury-prone for the next two seasons (1987–88) even as he led the San Miguel Beermen to the 1988 Third Conference.
Their outstanding hang time earned him the monicker “Skywalker” and previous injuries have not stopped him from playing recklessly he still came up with acrobatic and unbelievable shots to the delight of the crowd, one of which was when he fell on the sideline causing a bloody scene.
Pinat, who was assistant coach of the Westports Malaysia Dragons in the ASEAN Basketball League, was so proud of his buddy ‘Skywalker’s’ work ethic. “His stamina is so strong. He recovers fast from his injuries and goes back right away into the game.”
“At least Sam is going home to the Lord,” says Tino Pinat when asked about Lim’s death.
Tributes poured in for the former national team standout during his remains’ wake at Arlington Memorial Chapels in Quezon City before his inurnment on Saturday (Dec. 29).
(Joel Atencio was a former sportswriter before joining the academe as a public school teacher.)