Allana Lim once stood at the edge of a quiet exit, contemplating the close of a storied career.
Years of battles on courts both here and abroad had already shaped her legacy, and retirement seemed inevitable for the now 37-year-old, long considered one of the pillars of women’s basketball in the Philippines.
But her plans to step away from the game she had loved all her life were suddenly upended when the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League emerged, offering a new and sustainable home for Filipina players. The league drew her back onto the court.
“Kung tutuusin, dapat magre-retire na ako eh,” Lim told Tiebreaker Times after Discovery-Rizal’s heartbreaking Finals loss to New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas in the inaugural professional season of the WMPBL last Sunday.
Lim belonged to a generation of Filipina basketball players who faced an uncertain path after college, with little to no opportunities to continue their careers at home. She was forced to chase her passion across Asia, playing wherever the game could be pursued.
Having experienced all that, the former national team star knew how rare opportunities could be — and that’s why she pressed pause on her retirement to lend her talent to the budding league.
Lim recognized that the WMPBL needed players who could raise the level of competition, veterans like her who could push younger players forward. And so she played, not for personal glory, but to continue laying the path for the next wave of Filipina ballers.
(C) WMPBL Images
“Isang malaking stepping stone ‘to para sa younger generation,” said the Far Eastern University legend, who is also part of the UST coaching staff.
“But I still want to compete with the younger ones para makita nila ‘yung disiplina and ‘yung dedication ko sa pagtulong sa women’s basketball lalong-lalo na sa WMPBL.”
And she delivered on that promise. Lim turned in consistent performances, averaging 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, going toe-to-toe with the league’s young, talented players during the WMPBL’s inaugural professional season, despite her age.
Lim embodied grit and leadership, battling through illness in the latter part of the regular season. In doing so, she set the standard not just for her teammates, but for players across the entire league.
The 5-foot-10 bruiser even guided Perlas to the WMPBL Finals, showcasing her leadership and all-around skill, before falling in a tightly contested two-game series against the Valkyries for the league’s inaugural professional championship.
It was a testament to her mission of raising the level of basketball in the league — proving that even in the twilight of her career, she could still inspire and lead by example.
“Siguro ‘yung pagiging disiplinado ko sa sarili ko ang dahilan kung bakit nandito pa ako ngayon, competing — especially sa Bluefire. Alam naman natin, halos lahat sila nag-Gilas,” said Lim, who also earned a spot in the Mythical Team.
“Gusto ko lang din kasi talaga makita sa younger generation na kung talagang gusto niyo ‘yung ginagawa niyo, mahal niyo ‘yung pagba-basketball, you don’t give up sa pangarap na inaasam-asam mo.”
Only time will tell if the WMPBL will fully achieve its promise.
But for Lim, if staying on the court could make life even a little brighter for the next generation, then every sacrifice and effort was more than worth it.
