Samboy Lim celebrates 55th birthday with family

The Skywalker returns home.

Basketball legend Samboy Lim on April 1 celebrated his 55th birthday with his family at his home in Blue Ridge, Quezon City.

This is Lim's first public appearance since his hospitalization in 2014.

Lim slipped into a coma following a heart attack during an exhibition game featuring former PBA superstars in November 2014. He regained consciousness in January 2015.

His niece Dani Wickland shared a photo showing a smiling Lim flanked by his former wife, Darlene Berberabe, and their daughter Jamie.

The photo was also posted on Lim's official Facebook page.

"A lot of planning, preparation and logistics (special wheelchair, etc) were needed to pull off his first stroll outside of the hospital and his condo. Aunt Lelen (Darlene Berberabe) made sure an ambulance was on standby, while Ate Jamie lovingly watched over her dad with so much love and concern," Wickland wrote in the caption.

She continued, "All went well when they took him to their home in Blue Ridge. Even Ate Jamie's dog, Kitty, was all over Uncle Samboy in excitement. Everyone had tears of joy while they sang happy birthday to the Skywalker."

Wickland detailed in an article posted on The Odyssey Online that Lim was "was very alert and looked chubby."

Lim is still unable to talk, Wickland shared, but he would respond by blinking and smiling once in a while.

He was part of the Philippine national team at the Asian Games in 1986 and 1990.

Lim was also with the San Miguel Beermen from 1988 to 1997. —Aya Tantiangco/KG, GMA News