Lim was ‘one of the best’

MANILA, Philippines – They were never teammates, not in the collegiate ranks or during their long, colorful years in the PBA.

But Manny Paner, one of the great rebounders in PBA history, knew Lim Eng Beng, a deadly shooting guard, well he considered him a friend.

“Kaibigan ko yan (He’s my friend),” said Paner.

The beefy Cebuano cager, now 66, took a phone call from The STAR yesterday afternoon, not knowing that Lim has passed away due to illness.

Paner made sure he heard the news right.

“Kailan? (When?),” he asked.

“Kasabayan ko yan (He’s my contemporary),” said Paner, in one short moment trying to recall the days he faced Lim from the other side of the court.

From the inter-collegiate days to the PBA, they never landed on the same team, but shared the passion for the sport and being a sportsman.

They both entered the PBA in 1975, in its inaugural year, and retired from Asia’s first play-for-pay league just months apart in 1986.

“Hindi rin kami naging (We also never became) teammates sa Philippine team,” said Paner, a veteran of the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Lim was a deadly shooter. In his senior year for La Salle in the 1974 NCAA season, he averaged 32 points, and once hit a record 55 in a single game.

Paner said he always respected Lim’s shooting skills.

“I remember playing him in the PBA one-on-one contest,” said Paner.

“Nahirapan ako sa kanya kasi three-points ng three-points at pasok ng pasok (I had a hard time because he kept hitting three-point shots. Three points lang ang naging lamang ko sa kanya (I beat him by only three points),” said Paner.

The pride of the Unversity of the Visayas went on to win the first PBA one-on-one title by beating Philip Cezar in the finals.

Paner described Lim as a true sportsman, and one of the great point-guards ever in the PBA.

“Magaling yan. Mahusay. One of the best. Hindi marumi maglaro (He’s not a dirty player),” said Paner.

In 1980, Lim, in a Wrangler uniform, received the PBA Sportsmanship Award.

For that he will be remembered as well.

He was 64.