#9 - Samboy "The Skywalker" Lim

Avelino B. Lim, Jr. (born April 1, 1962), better known as Samboy Lim, is a former basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. As a forward/shooting guard, the iconic Lim distinguished himself with Magic Johnson-like ball handling skills and Julius "Dr. J" Erving leaping and dunking abilities, he is best remembered as a player who would leap towards the basket, switch the ball from one hand to the other while in mid-air, and finish off with a dunk.

Career

Amateur career

In the early 80s, he played college basketball in Letran College in the NCAA (Philippines) and helped the Knights win three straight NCAA seniors championships from 1982 to 1984.

In the amateur league during 1986, Lim played for Lhuillier in the Philippine Basketball League, then known as the Philippine Amateur Basketball League. With Lhuillier, Lim teamed up with another future PBA star, Jojo Lastimosa and they lead their team to the PABL championship.

Professional career

In his professional career, Samboy Lim was a star player for San Miguel Beer's Grand Slam title in 1989 under coach Norman Black though he usually came off the bench to spark the team's offensive attack.

In 1990, he was awarded, most valuable player award in the PBA All-Star Game where he scored 42 points (and still currently holds the number 1 record for the highest points scored ever in an All Star game).

In the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, the Philippines sent an all-star pro team, coached by Robert Jaworski, to regain the country's basketball supremacy in the Asian Games. The national team is composed of an all-star pro players such as 1990 PBA Most Valuable Player Allan Caidic, Alvin Patrimonio, Ramon Fernandez, Hector Calma, and Samboy Lim. Samboy was named into the Asian Games Basketball Mythical Five selection. The team did a great job winning all games with a large margin but lost in the final against China and the settled for the silver medal.

Samboy is known to have knee-high socks and sported jersey no. 9, his testament and tribute to his idol Julius "Dr. J" Erving even though Lim stood barely six-feet.

In 1993, Samboy was the player who got the first ever sportsmanship award for his exemplary behavior inside the playing field. Lim is also a member of the Mythical Second Team Selection twice (1990 and 1993). Having spent half of his career on the injury list because of his high-flying moves that often led to bad landings on the hard court, he never won an MVP award. Basketball aficionados regarded Lim as the most successful player who never won an MVP award. It was even believed that the sportmanship award was given because they knew that he can't complete full season to qualify for that MVP.

Samboy is an impact player who can dominate the game by penetrating to any stonewall defense. He uses his speed and hangtime to create impossible shots. With his dare-devil high flying drives to the basket, sharp outside shooting and all out hustle, Samboy electrified the crowd for decades. He earned the moniker "The Skywalker" and "The Dragon."

Samboy was unstoppable in his time. He had heart. And for some time, he was the most popular player in the PBA after Robert Jaworski. Samboy is best remembered as the only player getting a standing ovation and applause from the crowd (even of the opposing team) every time he walks up to the officials table to enter the game. He was not only popular...he was also respected and well loved and even appeared for BATIBOT, a popular kiddie show during the 80's.

Samboy was so unstoppable that isolating him, during the time that isolation plays are allowed in the PBA, would mean an automatic two points or an and one situation. He could break down defenses like bowling pins even if he is matched-up with an import. In fact Norman Black once draw...or always draw a play where everybody switch to the other side so that Samboy can isolate his defender for that easy two points.

Samboy could also throw threes and has a mean long tom added to his arsenal. In one of the invitationals where foreign teams were pitted against PBA teams, Samboy Lim saved the face of the Philippines when he single-handedly took over in the IBA-PBA challenge in 1987 where the import was a then obscure Bobby Parks.In one of the championship game against Shell...then commentator now PBL commissioner Trinidad during half time said that Shell is having a headache ( word to that effect ) in the name of S-A-M-B-O-Y because Samboy's killing Shell almost singlehandidly.

Samboy could be best remembered as the daredevil that never feared that his career might end in an instant. He was floored to the point he got bloodied in an instance where he drove against Jojo Lastimosa and was driven to unconsciousness for a moment. He also got his anterior cruciate ligament torn when he tried to drive through the baseline.

There was a time that Samboy Lim commanded P90,000 per month in salaries, which at that time was unprecedented in the history of the PBA.

Later career and retirement

In 1998, he joined the Philippine Basketball League to play for Welcoat Paints and retiring that year becoming its team manager. In 2000, He was named into the PBA's 25 Greatest Players. In his entire career in the professional league PBA, Samboy played for only one ball-club, San Miguel Beer, in which he is now serving as the current team manager.

In 2005, the PBA fans had another chance to see Samboy put his intensity and high-wire forays back on the court as he suits up for the PBA Greats Team. The PBA Greatest Game was held in the Araneta Coliseum as thousands of fans watched their favorite legends and great players of all time. Samboy scored 29 points that game.

Samboy is actively playing with the PBA Legends who just had a successful basketball tour in Melbourne and Perth, Australia. The team is composed of former Filipino Basketball Superstars such as Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic, Jojo Lastimosa, Jerry Codiñera, Paul Alvarez, Chito Loyzaga, Joey Loyzaga, Manny Victorino and others. The Skywalker is also active playing and touring locally with the SMC All Stars with fellow former ballplayers Hector Calma and Allan Caidic.

Career PBA Highlights

* Member, PBA's 25 Greatest Players
* Member, 1989 San Miguel Grand Slam Team
* 2-time Mythical Second Team Selection, (1990 & 1993)
* First ever recipient of the Sportsmanship Award (1993)
* 4-time PBA All-Star (three times number 1 All Star Vote Getter from fans)
* 1990 PBA All-Star Game MVP

Other Highlights

* NCAA MVP (Letran Knights)
* Member, 1990 Asian Games (Silver Medal)
* Member, Mythical Five (1990 Asian Games)

Winning Championships:

* NCAA Seniors Grandslam Team Letran, 1982, 1983, and 1984
* 1984 FIBA Asian Club Basketball Cup Champion NCC/San Miguel Philippines, 1984
* 1985 South East Asian Games Champion NCC/San Miguel Philippines, 1985
* PBA Reinforced Conference Champion (Amateur Guest Team) NCC, 1985
* William Jones Cup International Basketball Champion NCC/San Miguel Philippines, 1985
* FIBA Asia Champion NCC/San Miguel Philippines, 1986
* PABL Champions Mama's Love, 1986
* PBA Grandslam Team San Miguel Beer, 1989 Open Conference, 1989 All Filipino Conference, 1989 Reinforced Conference
* PBA All Filipino Champion San Miguel Beer, 1992
* PBA Governors Cup Champion San Miguel Beer, 1993
* PBA All Filipino Cup Champion San Miguel Beer, 1994

Memorable Moments

* 37 points against mighty Banco di Roma of Italy in the 1985 FIBA World Club Championships in Girona, Spain
* 27 points in San Miguel Beer's prestige-laden win over the IBA All-Stars
* 42 points to help the Veterans team clobber the combined RSJ team 146-118 (June 3,1990 PBA All-Star Game)

* In 1994 All Filipino Finals Cup, Samboy made a memorable halfcourt shot at the buzzer against Coney Island. This shot made a huge impact to the game and to the series as they won the title.

* Samboy Lim pioneered the cross-over head shoulder fake. He uses this to fake and by-pass his defender.

* Free-throw habits. Samboy messes up his hair before taking a shot in the free-throw lane and he doesn't bend his knees.

* Weekly Top Ten Count Down. During his time, Samboy Lim takes over the PBA top ten plays of the week. His skywalking, driving, and passing moves is usually on the top spot every week.

* MVP Award: Aside from an all-star MVP award in the PBA, Samboy won an MVP award in the NCAA as he propelled the Letran Knights to a grandslam feat during the early 1980s.

* Injuries. Due to the style of his high-wire game, Samboy never completed a season in the PBA due to injuries. One of his tragic injuries was a heated game with Purefoods. Regaining momentum in the last quarter after trailing most of the game, Samboy drove past several defenders and was clotheslined by Jojo Lastimosa in the air. This caused Samboy's body to lose control and went flying upside down hitting his head first then shoulder on the hardwood floor. Blood spilled and he has to be taken out in a stretcher. He had a cut in his forehead that needs 18 stitches outside and 8 stitches inside to close up. Jojo a close friend of Samboy visited him at Makati Medical Center. According to Jojo, the first thing that Samboy mentioned is "Who won the game?" This is the attitude of a true sportsman and a friend. Also during that game, the collision sent Samboy in a somersault and his foot hit the board. This is one of the most tragic injury witnessed by everyone in a basketball game.

* Sportsmanship Award: In 1993 the Sports Committee of the PBA created this award for Samboy because he is a true sportsman of the game. Also according to the media, the committee wants to give this special award to Samboy in honor of his impact to the game and that he just couldn't complete a season because of injuries. For the many, this award for Samboy is almost considered an MVP award.

* Jersey Number 9: Samboy wears the number 9 since his collegiate days up to the international games and in his entire career in the PBA.

* For the love of the game: In 1993, Samboy Lim and Hector Calma volunteered to have their salary-cut in order to acquire their good friend, Allan Caidic (who is a free agent from the disbanded Presto Ice Cream). This deal resulted in multiple championships. Back then, San Miguel is an all-star-studded team composed of great players like Ramon Fernandez and Ato Agustin.

* Robert Jaworksi: Ginebra is the most popular team in the PBA. Back in the 1990s, Samboy mentioned that he also wants to play for coach Big J. If Ginebra acquired Samboy then the Skywalker would have been the all-time most popular player ever. People love the underdogs and Ginebra has millions of loyal fans. It would have been great to have seen Samboy Lim play for the people's champion team.

* Standing Ovation and applause: Samboy is the only player known to get applause and standing ovation from fans (even fans from the opposing team) as he walks to the scoring table to enter the game. He also gets a thundering roar from the crowd whenever he touches the ball.

* Idol: Along with the millions of Filipinos who grew up watching Samboy Lim, there are also many famous basketball players who idolizes him. Most of them are self-confessed Samboy Lim fan themselves. Among them are Vergel Meneses, Paul Alvarez, James Yap, Danny Ildefenso, Mac Cardona and many others. Vergel Meneses "The Aerial Voyager" learned some nifty moves from Samboy that he applied to his slashing game. During one of the many comebacks of Samboy Lim, you will one of these guys watching with the crowd. Paul Alvarez even mentioned in an interview that during his teenage years he always run to watch the games of the Skywalker in the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. He remembers the times he has to fall in line with the crowd to buy tickets and watch avidly as his idol fly over his defenders. Even the great coach Big J Robert Jaworski's favorite player to field in an international games or all star exhibition is Samboy Lim. In the 1990 All Star Game, Samboy played most of the entire game under coach Jaworksi. The only time the Skywalker got a breather is when the Big J entered the game substituting him.

* The Michael Jordan of the PBA: In an Asian Journal, an author from China went to the Philippines to get a perspective of the Basketball Scene. After the visit, the author wrote that Samboy Lim is the Michael Jordan of the PBA. It is also mentioned in an article that Ron Jacobs, the famous coach of NCC/San Miguel in the International Arena, sent Samboy to the States for an operation. Ron Jacobs said to the doctor, "Please fix Samboy. He is my Michael Jordan."

* All heart: The heart and competitiveness of the dragon Skywalker Avelino "Samboy" Lim was evident especially on international competitions. In 1985, The Philippine Team competed for World Club Basketball Championship in Girona, Spain. Samboy played his very best. The Philippine team wearing the San Miguel jersey were loved by the European audiences due to the fact they were the smallest team competing on the tournament which includes the national teams of Yugoslavia, Italy (Drazen Petrovic that time was guarding Hector Calma). He led the team with his patented opencourt and acrobatic shots scoring his 37 points performance against mighty Banco di Roma of Italy. Because of the intensity and competitiveness, during the game Samboy suffered extreme exhaustion and fatigue. He played his heart out till the end. After the game, he has to be carried out in a stretcher with an oxygen tank. His dedication and courage made him an instant folk hero. Then it happened again in their game against the US Team in the 1985 William Jones Cup where they won the game and became champions.

* SMB: Samboy played his entire 9 year career in the PBA with San Miguel Beer. He retired in 1997. He is one of only two players - the other being Alvin Patrimonio (Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants) who played for 1 team in his whole PBA career.

Nice, that halfcourt shot at the buzzer came in Game 5 of the 1993 All Filipino Finals, Coney Island was making a run after down by 17 at halftime, it was 69-63 in favor of the beermen when Samboy hit that long triple at the buzzer to end the 3rd quarter.

In 1986, he was a member of the Lhuillier Jewelers team that captured the PABL championship, along with Jojo Lastimosa and Al Solis, I dont think he ever played for Mama's Love.

In 2005, in the All Star Game featuring PBA Greats vs PBA Legends at the Araneta Coliseum, Samboy at one point hit 5-of-5 from the three point line, and he was already 43 that time, its also memorable his friend Allan Caidic converted a 4-point play off him in one of the game highlights.

:turningred:

boles wrote: :turningred:

What's this?? not a fan of Samboy I guess.

Samboy Lim: First Knight
Michael Gohan Yu, special to InterAKTV · Monday, September 12, 2011 · 4:10 pm


This story first appeared in the first issue of Rebound Magazine for 2011.

Many of us still feel short-changed by the retirement of Avelino “Samboy” Lim, one of the most popular players in Philippine basketball history. We cling to every grainy online video of his days on the national team and in the Philippine Basketball Association. And those who are patient enough to keep digging through YouTube’s virtual collection of moldy Betamax tapes will also unearth a fairly generic documentary on the Skywalker.

The YouTube feature pretty much summarizes the public’s collective memory of Samboy’s basketball timeline. He lost his father at age 13, was discovered on the courts of Phil-Am Life Homes in Quezon City at 15, and then soared his way to a successful – albeit injury-riddled – career. He burst onto the national scene as an explosive guard/forward of the Northern Consolidated Cement team. He took his high-flying game to the PBA as a loyal soldier of San Miguel Beer and was an integral part of that team’s historic grand slam. Incredibly, he never played out a full season due to persistent and nagging injuries, and has earned the dubious distinction of being the best player never to have won a league Most Valuable Player award.

What the documentary breezes through, however, is Samboy’s life in the NCAA, for which it shares just one widely known fact: that he won a championship in each of the three years he played college ball at Colegio de San Juan de Letran. The dearth of knowledge on his playing days with the Knights shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, though. The games weren’t televised regularly in that pre-Internet and -cable TV era and print coverage for the NCAA always played second fiddle to the UAAP and the PBA. Still, depending on the year, the league hung on to a membership of five to six schools with rabid fan bases. There were still games to be played, championships to be won, heroes to be raised onto hardcourt pedestals.

Thankfully, the NCAA did not fold. If it had, then the tale of Samboy’s passage from anonymous streetballer to Hall-of-Famer may not have been told; an inspirational story that would knock his trademark knee-high socks off.

Preparing for take-off

Knowing what we know about Samboy today, it almost seems blasphemous to mention that he failed to secure a place on teams that have highly successful recruiting track records: San Beda, San Sebastian, Philippine School of Business Administration, and a few others that he could no longer recall. Eventually, he made it onto Letran’s Team B under the tutelage of Coach Larry Albano. Samboy realized that given his skill level at the time, he was fortunate to have found a school willing to take him in at all.

“Hindi pa ako gaanong kahusay para makasama sa isang team. Mas maraming magagaling na mas angat sa akin. Kaya nag-weights ako, nag-practice araw-araw, binuhos ko ‘yung panahon ko para gumaling. Ang swerte ko naman, nakasama ako sa 1982-1984 (seniors) team.”

The way Samboy described his elevation to Team A, you’d think he sat at the end of Albano’s bench. Nothing could be further from the truth. As one of seven rookies joining one-time league MVP Romeo Ang, Samboy made an immediate impact by scoring 22 points in the team’s first game of the season, a win against Trinity College. His weight training and practice sessions had obviously paid off, although what he casually described as luck was much, much more than that.

Tino Pinat, assistant coach of the current Letran team and Samboy’s closest buddy on the 1980’s squad, speaks fondly of the Skywalker’s work ethic. “Kakaiba ang attitude (ni Samboy) sa ibang player. Until (today), wala pa akong nakitang kasing-dedicated at focused na katulad niya.”

The dedication that Pinat refers to is evident in Samboy’s intense training regimen. He was always the first one out of the team dorm at five o’clock to do his laundry (just to get the chore out of the way so he can concentrate on drills). He would then practice shooting on his own until classes began at 8 AM. By one in the afternoon, he was back on the floor either shooting by himself or challenging someone to a game of one-on-one a full hour before the rest of the team would march into the gym for formal practice. How fascinating it would have been to witness these daily pick-up games because according to Pinat, this is where Samboy developed his magical repertoire of shots.

“Maghahanap talaga siya ng kalaro. Naging habit na niya, hanggang nag-pro siya, he comes an hour before (practice) para mag one-on-one. Sasabihin niya, ‘Sige nga, bantayan mo nga ‘to.’ Tapos bibilisan niya nang bibilisan hangga’t nakaka-imbento na siya ng mga bagong moves.”

That took care of his shooting skills. But playing as an undersized big man, he was being outmuscled and out-jumped on a regular basis, effectively negating the progress he was making on offense. To counter this, he pursued what Pinat described as an almost maniacal strength conditioning routine that benefited not only Samboy but the rest of the team as well.

“Papayat-payat (si Samboy) dati. Nakita niya na kailangan niya magpalakas dahil binabangga siya, kaya nagbubuhat siya religiously. At kahit na tapos na ang practice namin at laylay na kaming lahat, si Samboy, dunk pa rin nang dunk kasi gusto naman niya tumaas ‘yung talon. Lalabanan niya ang pagod at sasabihin niya sa sarili, ‘Hindi pwedeng matapos kasi lalakas ako kapag dinagdagan ko pa’.

“Nanonood pa lang kami, napapagod na kami (sa kanya). Pero niyayaya pa rin kami maglaro. Pati kami tuloy, nag-iimprove. Dahil sa kanya, pati ‘yung mga guards namin nakaka-dunk. Hindi lang ‘yon. ‘Pag pagod na siya, maghahanap siya ng tao na kaya pang mag-push sa kanya. He will try to win again kahit na laylay na siya. Sinasabi ko nga sa kanya, ‘Sira-ulo ka na ‘ata eh!’”

The effort that Samboy put into improving his game is not lost on his brother, Bon-Bon, who didn’t flinch when he compared his Kuya with other more prominent hoops superstars. “Laking bagay talaga ng attitude at commitment n’ya. Parang sina Kobe Bryant at Michael Jordan, may sariling practice bukod sa (team). At pare-pareho silang nagsasabi na kapag pumasok sa court, walang makakapigil sa kanila. Mayroon talaga silang confidence at love for the game.”

It turns out that the comparison to Michael Jordan is highly substantiated because there is one particular experience that both he and Samboy share. Jordan’s “Flu Game” in the 1997 playoffs is touted as one of the most outstanding performances in NBA Finals history. Not many are aware, though, that Samboy had an equally inspiring finals story of his own – one that enhances the Skywalker’s mystique that much more.

“The asthma series”

Bon-Bon summed up quite well what Samboy’s mindset is whenever he enters a game: patay kung patay. And in two out of three Finals games against San Sebastian College in 1983, it came extremely close to being just that as Samboy found himself hospitalized for asthma at the time. He pleaded to team officials for him to be released from confinement and allowed to play. Even with the emotional boost his presence provided, they lost Game 1 of the Finals by one point on a last second shot by Baste’s Nani Demegillo. But the Knights wouldn’t surrender as Samboy would be fetched from the hospital again to score 12 points in a Game 2 rout before scoring 20 for an 89-85 victory in the one-and-done knockout match, a game marred by exploding firecrackers set off by overzealous fans.

“Dumaan talaga kami sa butas ng karayom. Tinalo kami (ng San Sebastian) sa Game 1. At hindi naka-practice si Samboy kasi naka-dextrose siya due to asthma. Sinundo lang siya sa UST (Hospital) para maglaro (sa championship),” Pinat gushed with a sense of admiration. “Pagkatapos ng game, binalik siya sa ospital at sinuwero ulit. Grabe, nakakatindig balahibo ang ginawa niya. Pakamatay talaga.”

Pinat’s choice of words was quite apt. Just a few weeks before the championship series, Benigno Aquino Jr. had been assassinated, rousing a nation from its political stupor. Ninoy had famously proclaimed that the Filipino is worth dying for. Evidently, Samboy felt that his alma mater’s glory was worth the same price as he, too, risked his own health to rouse Letran and help it garner a second straight NCAA crown.

Champion on- and off-Court

There is a point at which the similarities between Jordan and Samboy begin to polarize. While Jordan coupled his personal drive with an infamous reputation of alpha-male intimidation (his uncomfortable Hall-of-Fame acceptance speech comes to mind), Samboy channeled his energies towards playing the game the way it should be played. No trash-talking, no stare downs. Just images of the Skywalker either sprinting like a thoroughbred to get back on defense or tumbling onto the floor after one of his airborne drives.

“Grabe ang tirahan sa kapanahunan na ‘yon,” Bon-Bon shared. “Pag nag-drive (si Samboy), lalagyan s’ya ng paa sa ilalim. Pero ‘no fear’ pa rin siya. Dinuduraan siya, tinutusok ang mata niya, pero sabi niya ‘Kapag gumanti ako, ako ‘yung talo. Babawian nalang kita sa puntos.’”

Samboy’s refusal to retaliate is but one of the manifestations of a person who lives by a strong set of values both on and off the court. Jimmy Go, his close friend of many years, refers to him as a humble, down-to-earth man who keeps his feet on the ground despite his accomplishments. “Walang ere talaga,” he mentions. An unintentional – yet strangely appropriate – dig at how different he is versus the man referred to as His Airness.

Carl Vendicacion, a partner of the Samboy Lim Player Development Academy (SLPDA), also speaks highly of the Skywalker’s character. He proudly explained how the SLPDA was never envisioned to be a for-profit endeavor. Samboy started it to give back to the game that has made him who he is, taking time out of his extremely busy schedule to train the students personally and mold future Samboy’s who are, as the SLPDA motto states, “basketeers and gentlemen”. No kidding. What other basketball camp are you aware of that sets aside time for its students to hand out roses to their moms on Mother’s Day? It wouldn’t be a surprise if that was Samboy’s idea because situated at the root of his passion for life – beyond the long hours in the gym, the packed stadiums, the accolades – would be, quite simply, the love for his family.

Samboy isn’t afraid to admit that it was the death of his father that triggered his pursuit of excellence in sports. And he practically beams when talking about his teenage daughter’s success in her own chosen sport, karate. “Sobrang ibang feeling, proud na proud ako. ‘Nung nag gold medal siya sa 12-13 (years) division ng World Championship, mas higit pa ang saya sa mga championship at pagkapanalo ko sa basketball.”

Those close to him admit as much. Coach Pinat shares that during the angst-filled, unguarded moments all teenagers go through, Samboy confided about how difficult it was for him to accept that his mother was the sole breadwinner for him and his four siblings. “Na-realize (ni Samboy), ‘ayokong maging pabigat sa nanay ko at siguro dapat tumulong ako’,” Pinat reminisces. “Kaya dito na sa Letran nabuo ‘yung dream niya na makapasok sa PBA.”

And being Samboy’s brother, Bon-Bon is probably the best authority on familial ties. “Although bumilib ako sa paglalaro niya, ang pinaka-biniliban ko ay ‘yung pagkatao niya. Hindi ko ‘to sinasabi dahil kapatid ko siya, nakita ko talaga. Napaka-humble, hindi niya pinabayaan ang pamilya. Siya ang naging breadwinner namin. Pangalawa lang ang basketball sa hinangaan ko sa kanya. Kung kailan naging superstar, doon pa siya (nagpakumbaba).”

Moving on

When asked whether he missed the days of playing above the rim when he would electrify his thousands – daresay millions – of fans, Samboy turned philosophical. “Although nagpapasalamat ako na may nag-a-appreciate sa mga past achievements ko, hindi ko na-mi-miss ang paglalaro. Chapter by chapter ang buhay ng isang tao at hindi ko na pwedeng balikan ang nakaraan. Natutuwa ako at maraming magagaling na bata (ngayon). I’ve had my time, sila naman ngayon.”

By closing that chapter of his life, it seems as if Samboy had saved one final, breathtaking parting shot for all of us. Granted, failure to put together a complete career profile for a player of his stature is a severe injustice (and hopefully, this story fills the void somewhat). However, wouldn’t it be equally severe to get stuck in that past and lose sight of what the present – and future – hold? Maybe this is the reason why he claimed that he couldn’t remember any of his past heroics and deferred to his family and friends to tell his story. Maybe the trap for someone as accomplished as him is that if he kept returning to his glory days often enough, the magnitude of his achievements could quite possibly force him to stay there. He could have easily become the athlete who kept holding out for just one more adrenaline rush, refusing to accept that it was time to move on.

Close to 15 years after hanging up his bum-hugging short shorts, the skywalking hasn’t stopped for Samboy Lim. He is a successful PBA team manager, businessman, teacher and father: all because he was mature enough to realize how much higher he could soar beyond the four baselines of the basketball court. And maybe one day we, too, will realize the irony of it all – that we actually have to pry our eyes away from old and blurry YouTube aerial highlights to learn how to walk on air.

Mike Yu is the editor-in-chief of Rebound, the first Filipino magazine dedicated to college basketball. Grab a copy of the magazine at your favorite bookstores.


Source: Interaksyon