When the name Samboy Lim is mentioned in conversations, Filipino basketball fans, especially the older ones, will automatically say “Skywalker” or “The Dragon.” Those were the two monickers in which he was christened for his gravity-defying style of play that captivated the hearts of Filipino hoops fans.
In the mid 2000’s Samboy ventured into his own basketball school, the Skywalker Basketball Camp, which was based in the old Adidas Basketball Facility in BGC (there were just around five buildings then in that area) and later at Dumlao Basketball Court along Shaw Boulevard.
One Sunday morning as I was browsing the Sunday papers, I stumbled upon the print ad promoting Samboy’s Basketball Camp. I was turning 25 at that time and still wanted to polish my skills in the game that I love. I mustered the courage to inquire if the camp accepted adult enrollees.
They told me, yes. So I enrolled. I was grouped with the older kids and teenagers. At first, it felt awkward since I could be a “tito” for some of the enrollees and you could hear whispers from the parents of other enrollees saying, “Camper yan? Ang tanda na niyan ah!”
All my feelings of awkwardness disappeared when Samboy himself approached me and told me, “Idol (he called us such), ikaw pala ‘yung kauna-unahang adult student ko dito.” I was speechless because I was really star-struck. Imagine, Samboy, a big star in his own right in the country, accommodating you.
So the work began. We had eight Sundays for the module. Samboy was hands-on in terms of imparting what he knew about the game, and together with one of his best buddies, Coach Tino Pinat, his Brother Bon-Bon, they tried their best in polishing our game. Samboy did not scold us if we were slow in performing the skill, rather, he accompanied us and really demonstrated to us how that particular move was done.
There were three instances in that camp with Samboy that really made a mark in me. First, when he was teaching us how to properly shoot the ball. He was very particular with how we held the ball up to how we released it. He was beside us at the free throw line and one-by-one, made sure that it was properly done.
Another was when he taught us his patented one-dribble driving lay-up from the three-point line. He was very generous in teaching his moves with different variations. He was so patient even if at times it could be so frustrating that most of us couldn’t deliver it. (Hey, we were mere humans trying to attempt a Skywalker move.)
Lastly, Samboy really made sure we learned. He cared for each student. He was present when we needed him the most. I can remember our lesson on off-hand lay-ups. He was teaching us to make lay-ups using our left hand (for right handers). I, together with one teenage student, couldn’t really make it.
Samboy, seeing our frustration, set the two of us aside and slowly, step-by-step, walked us through how it was done. Then he pulled me aside as he noticed my new pair of shoes. He told me, “Idol, ganda ng Lebron mo ah (Nike Zoom Lebron 20-5-5) Saan mo na score yan? Mas lalo kang gumagaling kapag suot mo ‘yan.”
I told him where I bought it and just smiled. Imagine your idol complimenting you. That really boosted my confidence.
Samboy as a teacher exercised the ministry of presence. He was there for each and every enrollee or student. He was so hands-on and made sure you were able to get and demonstrate the skill.
He taught with passion especially to those who needed more attention in polishing their skills. Samboy was a generous teacher because he taught his students everything he knew about playing the game at the highest level.
I never became a player but later in life I became a coach and a teacher. In the way I teach my students in class, there will always be a touch of how Samboy Lim taught me — present, passionate and generous to all students. Until we meet again, my teacher and Coach, Sam.
THUMBNAIL PHOTO: SAMBOY LIM (TheSkywalker) Facebook Page