Allan Caidic and the late Samboy Lim shared a strong bond stretching back to their days with the Northern Consolidated that the sharp-shooter could not help but feel sad when he received his Lifetime Achievement Award recently from the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
“Too bad Samboy isn’t here to receive it because we’re always together sharing our success,” Caidic said. “We were part of the 2009 Hall of Fame. But I’m glad his family was here to receive the award.”
He and Lim, who passed away during the holidays, were the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards alongside former champion coaches Dante Silverio and Joe Lipa.
“I feel so honored and humbled with this award,” Caidic told Daily Tribune.
“When you think about it, if you’re chosen for the Lifetime Achievement Award, you’re already aging. But thinking deeper, this is the symbol of your success, your journey, a proof of your contribution to Philippine basketball.”
Caidic and Lim toured the world during their storied amateur days, winning numerous titles in Asia and mesmerizing crowds as far as Girona in Spain during the world interclub championships.
Their most memorable stints were during the 1985 Jones Cup and the 1986 Asian Basketball Confederation championships (now FIBA Asia) that earned the Philippines a spot in the world championships (FIBA World) that eventually took place in Madrid.
Because of the change of government in 1986, the Philippines had to relinquish its spot.
Playing alongside fellow Philippine Basketball Association Hall of Fame recipient Hector Calma, Yves Dignadice, Tonichi Yturi, Franz Pumaren and naturalized players Dennis Still and Jeff Moore, Caidic and Lim helped the NCC’s title run in the 1985 Third Conference by sweeping Manila Beer in the best-of-seven championship series.
Caidic and Lim would go on separate ways when they entered the PBA with the ex-Letran star going to San Miguel Beer and the former University of the East gunner signing with Great Taste.
They would reunite years later and joined hands anew in giving San Miguel titles in 1993 and 1994.
They retired as among the 25 Greatest Players in the PBA and wound up in the 2009 batch of the Hall of Fame.
