Let’s pray for Samboy

PBA MEDIA Bureau chief Willie Marcial could not confirm the worrisome news flooding the Internet Saturday morning that said PBA legend Samboy Lim had just suffered a heart attack.

Willie said that while this news had already reached him, until he gets official word coming from the Lim family, the PBA office is not at liberty to make any announcement.

I first heard of what happened to Samboy early Saturday, when I was awakened by the incessant ringing of my phone.

The call was from Samboy’s former agent manager, lawyer Jun Celis, who also happens to be my ex-partner. He wanted to know if I had heard the news that Samboy had an attack while playing with fellow PBA legends at the Ynares Center in Pasig Friday night.

“I wasn’t told whether it was a heart attack or a stroke; they just said he collapsed during the game and had to be rushed to the hospital,” Atty. Celis said.

Willie Marcial provided some details.

“The exhibition match was between the PBA legends and the Resorts World All-Stars. Six minutes into the game, Samboy was subbed by Vince Hizon. While he took a breather, Samboy did some stretches. All of a sudden he turned white and collapsed. He was immediately brought to  Medical City. I don’t know what happened after that,” Willie said.

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From what he got from Purefoods team manager Alvin Patrimonio, who played with Samboy in the PBA Legends team, Purefoods governor Rene “Mang Pards” Pardo said that when Samboy got to Medical City, the heart monitor showed a flatline, prompting the doctors to use a defibrillator.

“Alvin said it took three shocks before they got a heartbeat. But Samboy remained unconscious. If he continues to stay in this condition, the plan is to submerge him in ice water.”

A few other legends wonder if Samboy’s extreme physical regimen had something to do with what happened.

“Sam takes too much fat burners and energy drinks, it could have overworked his heart,” said one legend.

“And he plays too much basketball almost daily, sometimes up to midnight. He is now 52,” said another PBA legend.

The other legends that Friday were Jerry Codiñera, Nelson Asaytono, Bal David, Noli Locsin, Bogs Adornado, EJ Feihl and Gherome Ejercito.

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Fearful that the prognosis may not be too bright even if he regains consciousness, I asked the opinion of my friend Dr. Abet Parungao.

“While there’s life there’s hope. Let me cite to you  the case of a 49-year-old male who suffered a heart attack. In the emergency room it took the staff 45 minutes (it takes only five minutes to be pronounced  clinically dead) to revive him. The patient was able to survive and live normally.”

Let’s pray for Samboy.