Return of the Dragon

If Michael Jordan is a "young" 38, then Avelino (Samboy) Lim is a "younger" 39.

Note that Jordan turned pro in 1984, sat out the entire 1993-94 season and 65 of 82 games the next year to play baseball, and saw action in 930 of a possible 1,148 outings up to 1998. So now that MJ’s back in the National Basketball Association (NBA), it’s no wonder he’s just as energetic and charismatic as ever. The itch to play, the desire to excel, the will to win – they’re still all part of the Jordan mystique.

As for Samboy, he orbits in the same stratosphere as the Washington Wizards’ senior statesman. They both like to fly, after all. Samboy’s the Skywalker–Jordan’s his Airness.

Like Jordan, Samboy takes good care of his body. And on the court, they can still do things that defy gravity. That’s because Samboy and Michael are no mere mortals. They’ve got wings on their feet.

Samboy turned pro in 1986 and missed two entire seasons because of injuries–in 1991 and 1995. In all, he sat out 372 of a possible 707 games for San Miguel Beer up to 1997–meaning, Samboy missed more games than he played. That’s why he’s still itching to play.

No wonder more and more fans are trooping to the Meralco gym every Saturday morning to watch Samboy take flight for San Miguel–in the company of buddies Hector Calma and Allan Caidic–at the STAR Friendship League.

Will Samboy consider a comeback? If Michael could do it, why not Samboy? He’d be the oldest player in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)–older than Josel Angeles and Ato Agustin who’re both 38.

If ever Samboy suits up again, it’ll probably be in a cameo role. And that will depend on whether the PBA finally accepts Welcoat Paints’ application–pending the last two years–to join the majors.

Samboy is a close associate of Welcoat owners Raymond Yu and Terry Que. They’re like brothers in a family. Welcoat has been knocking on the PBA’s door but can’t seem to put a foot in. The word is the PBA will only expand in multiples of two. For Welcoat to jump in, there must be another applicant willing and able to cough up the franchise fee of about P60 Million.

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But is it true that the PBA Board is frowning on expansion because it will dilute the mileage of the league’s 10 existing franchises? Surely, the long-term view isn’t to limit but to grow–no league can afford to stagnate because it would only lead to a stale product. If expansion is the wave of the future, why shut the door on applicants like Welcoat?

There’s no question that Welcoat’s owners share a passion for the game. Welcoat entered the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) in 1996 with Boy Lapid as the Paint Masters’ first coach. The team’s budget was then only P70,000 a month. Gabby Velasco of La Salle took over Welcoat’s reins the next year. In 1999, Junel Baculi was hired to call the shots and promptly piloted the team to the Yakult-PBL Challenge Cup. Baculi also steered the Paint Masters to back-to-back Chairman’s Cup crowns and the first PBL Open Invitationals last October.

If Welcoat isn’t accepted into the PBA fold next year, it will likely withdraw the application for good. That’s because its core players–like Yancy de Ocampo, Renren Ritualo, and Celino Cruz–are applying for the PBA draft.

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Welcoat sources say the Paint Masters’ owners are hoping for the same concession of elevating their amateur mainstays just like Tanduay in 1999 and Red Bull last year. That would bring up de Ocampo, Ritualo, Cruz, and Jojo Manalo to the pros as Welcoat holdovers. Add to the cast, PBA veteran Brix Encarnacion and burly Allen Patrimonio.

Welcoat’s nucleus is solid. Baculi is ready to jump to the pros–he’s proved himself in the PBL as a winning coach. Samboy could make a cameo comeback. Yu and Que are prepared to build the franchise into a championship contender.

If Tanduay and Red Bull were accommodated by the PBA, there’s no reason why their successor as the PBL’s most dominant club shouldn’t be extended the same privilege.