FOR exemplifying his boundless passion for the sport and exhibiting the ideals of sportsmanship on the court, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said Philippine basketball’s “The Skywalker,” the late Avelino “Samboy” Lim, merits the recognition of the Senate.
Estrada underscored this in Senate Resolution No. 911 expressing the Senate’s sympathy and condolences on the passing of the basketball legend, named one of the 25 greatest players in Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) history, last December 23 at the age of 61.
“His love and dedication to the sport as demonstrated by his outstanding performances exhilarated fans, inspired generations of athletes, and contributed immensely to the growth of Philippine basketball,” the senator said.
Lim earned the nickname “The Skywalker” due to his gravity-defying moves and high-flying plays on the court during the 1980s and 1990s. He was the first recipient of the PBA Sportsmanship Award in 1993 for embodying the ideals of sportsmanship– ethical behavior, fair play and integrity. In 2016, the award was renamed as the Samboy Lim PBA Sportsmanship Award in honor of his contributions to the sport.
The basketball legend built a stellar collegiate career and steered Colegio de San Juan de Letran into attaining three consecutive championships in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) where he was named as Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1984.
Two years after, he joined San Miguel basketball team and spent his entire 11-year PBA professional stint with the celebrated franchise, where he won for the team nine championships, including a rare Grand Slam in 1989.
He also secured five PBA All-Star appearances, two PBA Mythical Second Team Selection.
When he became a member of the national basketball teams to represent the country in numerous international competitions, he brought honor and pride by winning gold medals in the 1983 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore, 1985 SEA Games in Bangkok and 1985 Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championship title in Kuala Lumpur; silver medal in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing; and bronze medal in 1986 Asian Games in Seoul.
His passion for the sport did not cease following his retirement as he established the Skywalker Basketball Clinic and imparted valuable skills and lessons to the new breed of ballers, including beginners, intermediate and elite players.
Lim’s passing is an immense loss not only to his family, but to the entire nation as well, said Estrada.
Jinggoy: PBA legend Samboy Lim, karapat-dapat bigyan ng pagkilala ng Senado
DAHIL sa kanyang ipinamalas na kagalingan at pagmamahal sa larong basketball, hiniling ni Senador Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada sa Senado na bigyan ng pagkilala ang mga nagawa ng namayapang si Avelino “Samboy” Lim, ang tinaguriang “The Skywalker” ng Philippine basketball.
Binigyan-diin ito ni Estrada sa kanyang inihaing Senate Resolution No. 911 na nagpapahayag ng pakikiramay at pakikidalamhati ng Senado sa pagpanaw ni Lim, na nasa hanay ng 25 na pinakamagaling na manlalaro sa kasaysayan ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Si Lim ay sumakabilang buhay noong Disyembre 23 sa edad na 61.
“Ang kanyang ipinakitang pagmamahal at dedikasyon sa larong ito sa pamamagitan ng kanyang kahusayan sa bawat laro ay nagbigay inspirasyon sa kanyang mga tagahanga at nakababatang henerasyon ng mga atleta. Malaki rin ang naging ambag nito sa pag-angat ng Philippine basketball,” sabi ng senador.
Tinawag na “The Skywalker” si Lim dahil sa kanyang gravity-defying moves at matataas na pagtalon sa mga laro noong 1980s at 1990s. Siya ay ginawaran ng pinakaunang PBA Sportsmanship Award noong 1993 dahil sa kanyang ethical behavior, malinis na paglalaro at integridad.
Noong 2016, isinunod sa kanyang pangalan ang nasabing award at tinawag itong Samboy Lim PBA Sportsmanship Award bilang pagkilala sa kanyang mga naging kontribusyon sa larangan ng basketball.
Unang nakilala si Lim noong siya ay manlalaro pa sa Colegio de San Juan de Letran at naging parte ng tatlong sunod-sunod na pagiging kampeon nito sa National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Siya rin ay nahirang na Most Valuable Player (MVP) ng koponan noong 1984.
Makalipas ang dalawang taon, naging bahagi si Lim ng San Miguel basketball franchise, kung saan siya ay naglaro sa loob ng 11 taon ng kanyang professional stint. Sa loob ng panahong ito, naging champion ang San Miguel ng siyam na beses, kabilang na ang pambihirang Grand Slam noong 1989. Nakamit rin niya ang limang PBA All-Star appearances at dalawang PBA Mythical Second Team Selection.
Bilang miyembro ng mga pambansang koponan na naglalaro para sa bansa sa iba’t ibang pandaigdigang kumpetisyon, nagbigay si Lim ng karangalan sa bansa nang maipanalo nila ang gintong medalya noong 1983 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games sa Singapore, 1985 SEA Games sa Bangkok, at 1985 Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championship title sa Kuala Lumpur; silver medal sa 1990 Asian Games sa Beijing; at bronze medal sa 1986 Asian Games sa Seoul.
Matapos mag-retiro, itinatag naman ni Lim ang kanyang Skywalker Basketball Clinic kung saan ibinahagi niya ang mahahalagang kasanayan at aral sa mga batang manlalaro.
Ang pagpanaw ni Lim ay isang malaking kawalan hindi lamang sa kanyang pamilya kundi pati na rin sa buong bansa, ani Estrada.