Jamie Lim honored to represent her late father Samboy

Jamie Lim and Atty. Darlene Berberabe receives the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of late Samboy Lim. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Karate champion Jamie Lim relished the opportunity to represent her late father Samboy Lim as a lifetime achievement awardee, while receiving her own trophy at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night on Monday.

Jamie and her mother, Atty. Darlene Berberabe, received the Lifetime Achievement award for basketball legend Samboy, who passed away on December 23 last year.

It was fitting for the 27-year-old Lim to share the spotlight with her late father as she also received recognition after earning her second Southeast Asian Games gold in Cambodia last year in Kumite -61 kg.

“It’s a great great honor and idol ko siya talaga and he’s an amazing athlete, amazing person, and amazing father so I think it’s the best way to honor him,” Lim told the reporters.

“It’s very special because this is my second SEA Games gold as well and that’s what he got also, SEA Games gold. [It was a] great night because I have an award and he has an award as well. Matchy,” she added.

Aside from winning her second SEA Games gold last year, Lim also earned a Masters degree in Business Analytics at the prestigious Imperial College London, finishing as a top 10 student and a Dean’s Lister.

The second-generation athlete will have a lighter year in 2024 after competing in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. That’s why she is eyeing to find a job. 

“I’m gonna start to look for work so job hunting na rin ako,” said Lim, who was a summa cum laude at the University of the Philippines with an undergrad degree in BS Mathematics. “Since very light pa yung calendar namin this year our training will be not so intense kaya it allowed me more time to do work and I think a lot of jobs now are hybrid.”

As she eyes a job “anything related to data science or business analytics,” Lim vows to continue training for the Asian Championships while she juggles it with her corporate career. 

“I think it’s gonna be 50:50 [karate and job]. I’m turning 27 this year so it’s time to apply what I learned from school naman but I’ll be happy to be part of the team,” she said. “We do have the Asian championships, yun pa lang so far. I’ll just keep training and be ready.”

Samboy Lim was honored with Allan Caidic as well as champion coaches Dante Silverio, Joe Lipa, and Arturo Valenzona as the Lifetime Achievement awardees in the PSA Awards night.