• Samboy played for the Colegio de San Juan de Letran senior varsity team.
  
• He led the Letran Knights to 3 NCAA crowns.
  

• Samboy was drafted into the national team by coach Ron Jacobs.
  
• He saw action all over the world: in Spain, Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Singapore.
  
• They bagged the 1985 Jones Cup title.
  
• As NCC (Northern Cement Consolidated), the national team played in the PBA as a guest team in 1984 and 1985; they won the 1985 Reinforced Conference championship.
  

• Samboy played for CF Sharp, Lhuillier and Mama's Love in the PBL.
  
• After his stint in the pro league, Samboy returned to the PBL in 1998 via Welcoat.
  

• Samboy turned professional in the 3rd conference of the 1986 PBA season, along with most of his teammates at NCC.
  
• He played for only one team throughout his PBA career: San Miguel Beer.
  
• He was part of the 1989 San Miguel Beer Grand Slam Team.
  
• He made it to the Mythical Second Team Selection twice, in 1990 and 1993.
  
• He was named Most Valuable Player at the 1990 PBA All-Star Game.
  
• In 1993, Samboy became the first-ever recipient of the Sportsmanship Award.
  
• He played in the PBA All-Star Game 4 times.
  
• He was awarded one of the "25 Greatest PBA Players" by the league on its 25th anniversary.
  

• Samboy returned to the PBL in 1998 via Welcoat.
  
• He served as consultant for the Welcoat team in the PBL.
  
• Currently serves as team manager of SMB in the PBA.

...Speaking of injuries, San Miguel Beer team manager Samboy Lim had another one added to his long list when he played in the Greatest Game to celebrate the PBA's 30th anniversary last May. Samboy had to undergo surgery for an old knee injury that recurred and to remove bone spurs that grew in the vicinity of the injury....

Samboy Lim, the pioneer aerial acrobat, kept fans waiting for his first dunk. He started the game hitting triples - five of them the whole game. But when he found the lane open and a chance to dunk on a few occasions, he opted for a lay-up—a sign that age had indeed crept up with the "The Skywalker."

Also to be feted are four-time Olympian Enrique Beech of shooting and football, and Avelino "Samboy" Lim Jr. and Jerry Codiñera of basketball, who are among the 25 greatest Philippine Basketball Association players. These sports greats are to receive recognition from Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, who is spearheading the 433rd celebration of the "Araw ng Maynila" this week.

THE NATIONAL Basketball League selection will represent the Philippines in the Qatar Invitational Tournament from July 30 to Aug. 6.

To be known as "Team Philippines-Spring Lhuillier," it will be led by Philippine Basketball Association legendary Skywalker Avelino "Samboy" Lim and reinforced by seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks and former Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) Star Jeffrey Flowers.

There's no player quite like Avelino (Samboy) Lim in the PBA. He's a daredevil on the, defying gravity in skywalking to the basket, challenging the big men inside the paint, and throwing caution to the wind.

Lim plays basketball with reckless abandon. It's the only way he knows how. He's paid a hefty price for it. In 1989, he levitated several feet off the floor on a drive and took a horrifying tumble when Jojo Lastimosa accidentally tipped his legs in mid-air. Samboy crashed with a thud, his left shoulder absorbing the impact of the fall. His head also slammed against the hardwood and Lim emerged from the collapse with blood spewing out of a nasty cut near the left eye. It took 16 stitches outside and six more inside the skin to close the wound...

Even as he became the PBA's most exciting player, Samboy never let the popularity get to his head. He remains shy, quiet, soft-spoken, reserved, and humble. Samboy is unflinching in his devotion to friends and family.

Who can stop Samboy Lim? This question was in the minds of many, three seasons back, after Samboy skywalked to fame and changed forever the nature of the inside game with his daredevil acrobatic shots. He became an instant folk hero as only a few had achieved in the pros. His legend was born. Nobody could stop him. Not Jaworski, not the game's most brilliant defensive players. All that Lim needed was an opening and he would squeeze his way to the basket, twisting in the air and making impossible shots. Because he is quick and powerful, he has the choice of shooting from the perimeter, or driving to the basket, which is Lim's most explosive game. The only way to stop him was handcuff his shooting arm to his leg. And because this is not possible, the next best thing was tackle him hard to the floor, which most of his guards have attempted to do...