Samboy Lim did a Michael Jordan act in 1983 with the Letran Knights

Avelino “Samboy” Lim leaves behind a lot of memories dating back to his NCAA days with the Letran Knights. He was part of the famed three-peat of the Knights from 1982 to 1983 under the tutelage of coach Larry Albano.

Albano was one of the many people who were made aware of Lim’s final moments. He was informed about “The Skywalker’s” condition before Lim passed away on December 23, 2023 and even helped in getting a priest to visit Lim at the hospital.

It was an unfortunate development considering it was just two days before Christmas. All Albano could do was pray for his former player, someone he got to visit back in July 2023.

Samboy Lim was part of the The Letran 3-peat NCAA Champion (1982,83,84). [photo credit: PH Sports Bureau Facebook]

Albano recalls Samboy Lim coming to Letran

When Albano first met Samboy, it came at a time when the Letran Knights had already settled their 15-man roster. The former PH national coach had inherited the head coaching reigns, succeeding Nemie Villegas who moved up to the PBA with Ginebra.

He recalled how he was left in a bind trying to include Lim into the roster. Albano shared that moment he had with Samboy Lim.

“Alam mo may dilemma ako. Last week nag-settle na kami ng lineup na 15. Hetong team na ito, minana ko kay coach Nemie [Villegas] nung mapunta siya sa Ginebra. Kursunada kita. Kung gusto mo maglaro, gagawa ako ng paraan. Mapipilitan ako magtanggal ng isang player para sa iyo. Masakit sa loob ko pero gagawin ko,” Albano recalled.

However, there was a small detail – Lim would be part of the team and enjoy the benefits but would not yet be able to officially play for the Knights.

“Kukunin kita, lahat ng benefits ng player. Kung may byahe kasama ka, may uniform ka at nakaupo ka sa bench. Hindi ka lang maglalaro. May uniporme ka pero di ka mag-suit up. Tapos sabi ko, ‘Papayag ka ba?’ Pumayag,” the former Letran coach shared.

Samboy Lim had always been known to wear the No. 9 jersey. He wore it with the Philippine team and in the PBA. However, under Albano, Lim donned the no. 19. Here is why.

“Kaya ang number niya, 19. Sila lang ni [Elmer] Latonio ang binigyan ko ng number to reflect me. Pero sa kanya, nung nawala na ako sa Pilipinas, yun na ang kinuha niya ang 9. Yun na din ang naging numero niya nung nag Philippine team siya,” Albano said.

Samboy Lim and Michael Jordan narrative

Ironically, Samboy Lim and Michael Jordan drew several comparisons. That included both rising to fame when both were still in college.

Samboy played for Letran from 1981 to 1984 and Jordan went to North Carolina in those same years.

“Di ba kinumpara siya kay [Michael] Jordan? Siya naglalaro pa sa college tapos si Jordan nasa college pa rin [noon]. So simultaneously parang ganon, nagsasapaw eh. O nauna pa ata si Samboy.

However, Albano pointed out that Lim did something that Jordan managed to do. This is about the 1997 Flu Game of His Airness.

According to Albano, Lim did the same in 1983 when the Knights played San Sebastian for the NCAA title.

“So yung narrative, totoo yung narrative na ala Jordan siya na sinasabi nung may sakit siya. Kako baliktad. Nauna si Samboy kasi 1983 nung best of three kalaban San Sebastian, maglalaro siya tapos pupunta ng hospital. Kung laro bukas, pupunta siya pero manonood lang,” Albano stated.

“Kaya nung nangyari kay Jordan na nasa NBA na siya, nangyari na kay Samboy earlier,” he added.

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Brian Yalung

Managing Editor at Sports Bytes PH

Brian Yalung is a long-time writer who covers most sports and technology. He focuses on one-on-one interviews with athletes and organizations, going in-depth. He finished his Masters in Business Administration degree at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Applications at the DLSU-College of St. Benilde. He is currently the Program Overseer of PTV Sports.