San Beda, Letran set aside rivalry to help Samboy Lim

MANILA, Philippines — No rivalry is greater than the desire to help a comrade in need. 

San Beda College and Colegio de San Juan de Letran set aside their fierce rivalry to come together and offer assistance to former Knight and PBA legend Samboy Lim, who is currently undergoing therapy to recover after collapsing during an exhibition game in November 2014. 

The two schools conspired to donate to Lim’s family the ticket sales of the Knights-Lions NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball game on Tuesday, October 6. With a jampacked FilOil Flying V Arena, the rival NCAA institutions united and amassed Php 170,000 for Lim. 

“Nag-usap usap sila sa medical funds ng brother ko na gusto nila makatulong (They came together and wanted to help my brother with his medical funds),” shared Anthony Lim, Samboy’s youngest brother who accepted the check at halftime of Tuesday’s game.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa NCAA community, Letran and San Beda communities kasi sila talaga nag-organize nito,” added Anthony, who also helps take care of his brother in a hospital room set-up at home. 

(I want to thank the NCAA community, the Letran and San Beda communities because they organized this.) 

Lim, who is popularly known as “The Skywalker” and led Letran to 3 straight titles from 1982 to 1984, was in a comatose state after his collapse and awoke last January. 

“I think people don’t know that Samboy studied in San Beda when he was in (high school),” said San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin, who was also aware of the plan. 

“You have to reach out, it’s all about teamwork. NCAA is always ready to give a helping hand to a comrade that needs help. We’re just happy to step in and help as much as we can.”

Lim, according to Anthony, is now able to follow instructions and responds when spoken to, though he cannot speak nor swallow his own food yet.

“Nakakaintindi siya pag kinausap mo. Pag kinuwentuhan mo ng masaya tatawa, pag kinuwentuhan mo ng malungkot iiyak,” shared Anthony, who believes his brother’s recovery is a miracle in itself as doctors said Lim was then in “a stage of no awakening” after his brain had no oxygen for 23 minutes.

(He can understand you when you talk to him. If you tell him a happy story he will laugh, if it’s a sad story he will cry.) 

The money will go a long way for the 53-year old Lim, who has made significant progress since waking up from his coma and returning home from the hospital. 

With his heart strong, Lim breathes normally by himself without the aid of a ventilator. Though he is still bedridden but can move his limbs with assistance. He intakes blendered food via a feeding tube. 

“Ang importante very motivated siya. Talagang every day nakikita ko kasi ako isa sa mga nagaalaga,” Anthony said of Lim, who was a two-time PBA All-Star and a member of the PBA Hall of Fame class of 2009 after a pro career of more than a decade with the San Miguel Beermen. 

“Nakakatuwa kasi knowing my brother, fighter yan e.” 

(The important thing is he is motivated. Every day I see him because I take care of him. I’m happy because knowing my brother, he’s a fighter.)

Though jeering at each other all afternoon Tuesday as San Beda triumphed over Letran, 77-73, both schools were happily on the same side for a worthy cause. — Rappler.com