Samboy

News on Samboy Lim’s collapse at the Ynares Gym in Pasig City last weekend struck me like a bolt of lightning. Even at 53, Samboy was undoubtedly fit and was believed to have a healthy lifestyle. He was in the gym almost everyday and played basketball often. I’ve known Samboy for over 20 years now. He was a fixture at our then Casa Ilongga outlet in Vito Cruz  Extention, Makati City. He, together with Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Cordinera, would devour a bowl of Lapaz Batchoy hours before a game at the Ultra. He said the Batchoy “caldo” was his gasoline that made him fly. Of course, Samboy is known as the Skywalker. Because of his daring drives, Samboy was always prone to injury. He once showed me an assortmnent of operation scars on his shoulder and knee (he also had an ACL operation). Other PBA players who frequent Casa Ilongga for the pre-game Lapaz Batchoy meal, were Jun Limpot and Noli Locsin who even operated franchises of Casa Ilongga in Olive Plaza in Paranaque and Tutuban Center respectively.  As I write  this column, Samboy is still in coma.  We just hope he gets over the  48-hour  critical stage. The never-say-die person that he is, we expect  him to fight this battle to the last. Wake up buddy! The nation is praying for you.

Boyet Lim

As we keep watch on Samboy, anothet Lim is likewise in a very critical situation.  Ruben “Boyet” Lim, one of Cebu’s top balladeers, has been diagnosed with the Big C.  Like Samboy, I’ve known Boyet for a long time as he’s been a part of our show, Elvis and friends,  together with Jhun Villahermosa, the Frank Sinatra of Cebu, Sam Costanilla and Max Andrino (dos Gwapos), Mark Babiera ( the Michael Jackson of Cebu) and comedian Gilbert Amante (Chokolet).  Boyet is known for his powerful voice and was even an interpreter in the Cebu Pop Music Festival a few years back.  Just as we are praying for Samboy, we are also hoping for Boyet to recover and sing with us once more.

Did you know?

Even after he became a basketball star, Michael Jordan of Wilmington, used to wear his University of North Carolina shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform for goodluck.

Most Olympic Medals. Between 1956 and 1964, gymnast Larissa Latynina from USSR won a staggering 18 Olympic medals, that’s the most medals to ever be won by a single competitor.

Part Owners. Celebrities who own stakes in major teams are Will Smith (Philadelphia Sixers), Nelly (Bobcats), Gloria Estefan (Miami Dolfins), Justin Timberlake (Memphis Grizzlies), Paul Stanley (LA Kiss) and Usher (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jon Bon Jovi is bidding to buy the Buffalo Bills.