Now that she’s in a leadership position, Allana’s goal is to make sure the athletes she handles are supported—as athletes, and as people.
Women’s basketball is having its moment. But it would be fair to say that without the efforts of Allana Lim, we might be facing a very different landscape today. Allana became the first Filipina to play as an overseas import in 2013, and she helped open doors for the likes of Afril Bernardino to play abroad. Ten years later, Allana remains in fighting form—having recently played as an import in Borneo, and working as an assistant coach and practice player for the UST Women’s Basketball Team.
She also had to overcome a multitude of challenges to get here—both as a woman and as part of the LGBT+ community.
“Alam ko na talaga from the start. bata palang ako, Grade 3 ko na-realize na shucks, hindi talaga [ako straight],” says Allana Lim. “Lesbian talaga ako. Never akong nagkagusto sa lalaki.”
A naturally gifted athlete, Allana excelled in tennis, BMX, skateboarding, and basketball growing up in Argao, Cebu. You name a sport, she could do it. But facing pressure from others who told her “mag-girl ka,” Allana was pushed into beauty pageants as a young woman.
“Sabi ko nga sa partner ko, tignan mo yung mga album namin. Makikita mo lahat doon naka-gown ako. Nagpa-pageant ako hanggang 2nd year high school, third year,” she recalls. “Tinry ko talaga. Pero wala talaga. Eto na talaga ako.”
Allana was recruited to play for the University of Cebu at 16 years old. Already standing 5’9” and with an athletic build, Allana played for three years in CESAFI competitions before their women’s basketball team was disbanded because of low membership. Fighting to hold on to her basketball career, Allana seized upon an opportunity to move to Manila and play for the FEU Lady Tamaraws.
Like many other women’s basketball players, Allana had to overcome challenges like a limited budget and lack of recognition for the women’s tournament. Her legacy with the FEU Lady Tamaraws? A 16-0 sweep of the UAAP tournament, and the MVP award.
For male athletes, this would have been a ticket to being a first-round PBA Draft pick. But the Philippines had no professional league for women back then. Unless you made the national team, which even then, only played several times a year, every women’s basketball player gave up her playing career after graduation.
Until Allana took a leap of faith. She risked it all to play in Malaysia and thus became the first Filipina basketball import—a career that saw her play in Singapore, Nepal, Indonesia, and more.
As Allana grew as an athlete, she also found her voice as a woman who defied gender norms. With her short hair and tattooed arms, Allana often faced pressure from local basketball leagues. At the time, leagues wanted to market women’s basketball to men by presenting them as soft and feminine—sexy, even—rather than focusing on their skills as athletes.
“Gusto [ng liga] maiksi yung shorts tapos ang sisikip ng jersey. Tapos gusto nila mahaba ‘yun buhok,” she rememebers. “Basketball tayo, so ano bang uniform ng basketball? Pinipilit niya akong isuot ‘yung cycling short, sobrang iksi talaga. Paano ako maglalaro ng maayos ng basketball kung hindi ako komportable sa suot ko, kasi hindi naman pang basketball?”
Allana stood her ground and threatened to walk out until the league organizers allowed her to wear the appropriate uniform.
Now that she’s in a leadership position, Allana’s goal is to make sure the athletes she handles are supported—as athletes, and as people. “Ayoko ‘yung player ko na nagugutom. Before and after, may pagkain kayo. Ayoko ‘yung players ko na butas-butas yung sapatos, walang medyas,” she shares, talking about their efforts to provide all the equipment needed.
Furthermore, she wants the new generation of athletes to be comfortable in their own skin while playing, and free from the restrictions that force female athletes to look a certain way. “Gusto ko presentableng, komportable ka sa suot mo,” Allana shares.
I asked Allana her advice for young athletes, especially young girls who may be part of the LGBT+ community: “Kunwari, may batang babaeng basketball player na kagaya mo, at pine-pressure siya ng mga tao na dapat ganito itsura mo. dapat ganito ‘yung galaw mo, ganyan. Ano ‘yung mensahe mo para sa mga batang katulad mo?”
Allana answered with no hesitation with a quote that rings especially true this Pride Month. “Ipaglaban mo kung ano ka talaga. ‘Wag mong ikahiya,” she says. “At the end of the day, mas kilala mo ‘yung sarili mo kesa sa ibang tao, so just stay true to who you are.”