To the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) and its CPR/AED-Ready.PH allies, Avelino “Samboy” Lim Jr. is a legend. A hero in PHA, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and Philippine history. His heart-wrenching story served as proof of how camaraderie in the court, love for basketball and admiration for Samboy could spark spontaneous outpouring of prayers for his recovery, never before seen in the history of social networking.
In November 2014, while playing at the charity Legend’s Game at the Ynares Gym, Samboy had a heart attack that triggered a cardiac arrest. No one among his colleagues knew how to perform hands-only CPR while the venue, the Ynares Gym was not equipped with an automated external defibrillator (AED), a lifesaving gadget that restores the heart’s electrical rhythm.
Lim’s misfortune inspired the filing of House Bill 6204 or the Samboy Lim Bill in 2015 authored by then Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao (1st district, Pampanga) who was a former PBA coach.
The strong organization of 2,313 cardiovascular specialists, represented by the PHA Board of Directors 2023-2024, honored Lim with a Board Citation on December 28, 2023 at the Colegio de San Juan De Letran Chapel, Intramuros, Manila where his remains lie in state. An alumnus of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, he died on Dec. 23, 2023, at The Medical City.
The citation which reads: “for serving as an inspiration in furthering the PHA Lay Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Advocacy; and for being a catalyst in the enactment of Republic Act 10871 or Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act,” was presented by PHA Vice President Dr. Rodney Jimenez (on behalf of PHA President Dr. Ronald Cuyco) to Lim’s family, former wife Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe and daughter Jaimie Lim and siblings.
“We are here today to bestow upon a posthumous honor on an individual whose personal journey has profoundly impacted our nation’s safety and health. The Philippine Heart Association presents this PHA Board Citation to Mr. Avelino “Samboy” Lim, Jr., for serving as an inspiration and becoming a powerful impetus behind the crucial legislative milestone,” Jimenez said.
Also on hand were other PHA Board officers: Drs. Luigi Pierre Segundo, Jude Erric Cinco and PHA Council on CPR Chair Don Robespierre Reyes. Berberabe is PHA Vice President for External Affairs, a post she’s held since 2016. Segundo has been Samboy’s attending physician since 2014.
“When Samboy suffered a heart attack in 2014, the PHA and I wanted to pursue an advocacy and hoped to use his story to push for legislation that CPR should be part of the curriculum for high school students; because of the efforts of the PHA, the Samboy Lim Law, based on his story, was presented in Congress and the sponsor was Cong. “Yeng” Guiao, also a basketball coach. In July 2016, the Samboy Lim Bill became a law, and now, the Department of Education has approved the training as part of the high school curriculum,” Berberabe recounted.
The trip to The Medical City in Ortigas, Pasig, from Ynares Gym took at least 23 minutes. He fell into a coma. According to the PHA, CPR window hour is two to four minutes to prevent irreversible neurologic or brain damage.
Samboy’s loved ones and the entire basketball scene was shocked. Everyone was saddened by the news.
Samboy Lim Law Makes Double History
The Samboy Lim Bill made history because after 10 months, it lapsed into law in July 2016 and became Republic Act 10871 or the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Act which requires compulsory basic hands-only CPR in the K-12 curriculum.
In early 2015, Berberabe and Segundo, then a PHA Council on CPR member, collaborated on the making of the instructional CPR infomercial video titled “Cardiac Arrest”. Top billed by PBA superstar Alvin Patrimonio, the video which raises awareness on the importance of prompt and proper administration of bystander CPR, urges the public to be lifesavers, also featured PHA CPR Chair Dr. Francis Lavapie and Segundo. “Cardiac Arrest” is one of the PHA’s staple infomercials to this day.
“Lim’s story which dramatized the Philippines’ lack of emergency tools was a wake-up call and a catalyst for change. It strengthened the PHA’s resolve to push for the CPR and AED Laws,” according to Cuyco.
With the constant support of the Lims, through Berberabe, the PHA led CPR-Ready.PH Campaign got a major push and marked milestones. But the campaign needs to hit higher strides to level up.
Not resting on its laurels, the PHA through its incumbent Board – Drs. Cuyco, Jimenez, Segundo and Louella Santos and Berberabe, as well as Dr. Alena Bantolo, a member of the PHA CPR Council, urged lawmakers at the Senate and Congress to enact the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Law. They made a courtesy call on Cong. Richard Gomez (4th District, Leyte) on August 1, 2023 and Sen. Lito Lapid on August 29, 2023, to hail them for filing AED Bills and to offer the PHA’s expertise in AED awareness dissemination.
There were other solons in both House of Congress who authored similar bills.
THE SKYWALKER LEGACY LIVES ON
The indelible mark that Lim’s story has left on public health and safety is a crucial step in the continued pursuit of a CPR & AED ready Philippines, Berberabe shared.
“As of now, the next step for the PHA and the advocacy is to push for the passing of a bill that would require AED installation in public spaces like gymnasiums, malls, and other public spaces.”
In addition to CPR-trained individuals in the area, the presence of an AED would have been an integral key to preventing lasting damage from Lim’s heart attack, making legislation for the lifesaving device, a top priority for Berberabe and the PHA.
“There are now sponsors like Sen. Lito Lapid, Cong. Richard Gomez, and Cong. Bernadette Herrera. The family is supporting this advocacy because we know that Samboy would also be supportive of any effort that would help the Filipino people and also to prevent cases like his,” she explained.
In retrospect, during an interview with The PHA’s The Heart News & Views in May 2016, Berberabe said “if Samboy could speak now he would support the CPR Advocacy because it can save lives. Samboy would always do what will be good for others. He always means well and is truly a positive being.”
Jaimie, then 19 years old, pledged to embrace and propagate the CPR campaign said: “my parents are the greatest examples of what champions are to me and they inspire me. But the greatest thing about them is that they are genuinely good and kind-hearted people. Dad and mom would always remind me that achievements do not mean anything if the person does not have a kind heart. I always keep that in mind and try to be like them.”
GODSPEED, SKYWALKER
Basketball icon Avelino “Samboy” Lim Jr., 61, passed away after a lingering illness on December 23, 2023 at The Medical City (TMC).
He is survived by family, his ex-wife Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe and daughter Jamie Lim. and siblings.
Who is Samboy Lim
At 15 years old, while playing on the court of the Phil-Am Life Homes in Quezon City, Lim was discovered by former basketball player Jun Celis. Subsequently, he earned scholarships which were a windfall because he lost his father Dr. Avelino Lim Sr., in his early teens.
He won nine PBA titles when he was with the San Miguel Beermen. A five-time PBA All Star, A PBA Grand Slam champion, he made it to the league’s list of 25 greatest players.
A veteran sports writer, aptly described him as a “shy cage hero who transformed into a dragon once inside the court”.
His kith and kin call him a man of great charm, distinction, humility and grace.
During his heyday (the 1980s and 1990s), he thrilled and wowed basketball addicts with his amazing high leaping moves (often dangerous forays to the basket, punctuated by acrobatic shots, or slam dunks); and impressed them further because despite his stature and unique skills, “the Skywalker might just be the most graceful aerial artist in Philippine Basketball Association history, yet the most grounded”.
To this day, he is one of the most esteemed cagers.
He ruled the court at the peak of his career, but to his forever fans, a substantial sum given the fact that over 75 percent of Filipinos are basketball buffs, Lim occupies a special place in their hearts.
