Paul Lee assured that there’s nothing to worry about after suffering an ankle injury early in Magnolia’s eventual win over Phoenix Super LPG in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal opener, Wednesday night.
The star guard admitted that there’s still a bit of pain but quickly added that he could manage to play through it, just like what he did in Game 1 which ultimately enabled the Hotshots to take the head start in the best-of-5 series.
“May kaunting pain pero OK lang,” he told reporters moments after their 82-79 escape at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Kaya naman ilaro ‘yan.”
Lee got hurt at the 8:51-mark of the second period, when his left ankle tripped on the foot of Johnathan Williams during a fight for the loose ball.
“I think kasama rin sa style of play ko. Semis, expect mo ‘yung mas physical, mas maraming duma-dive sa floor,” said the 34-year-old gunner of that incident. “I think kung mangyayari ‘yun, mangyayari talaga sa’yo eh.”
He was brought to the bench but didn’t stay there for a long period. The 13-year veteran checked back into the game with 7:10 remaining in the same canto.
Lee appeared unbothered by the injury. He managed to finish the game, and even played a key role in delivering the big blow to the opposition.
He set up Tyler Bey for the crucial three-point play conversion, which gave Magnolia the lead for good, 81-78, with 1:27 left to play.
“The play was for Tyler but he needed to kick out the ball because they had good defense on the post. So Paul, siya na yung nag-create for Tyler. That’s experience,” lauded head coach Chito Victolero of that play.
Lee, of course, felt glad to have helped deliver the most important play of the night.
“Actually, nagdadalawang isip ako kung icha-challenge ko yung import. And then nakita ko naman ‘yung weakside nila, maliliit na,” he said.
“Hindi ko na binounce pass, baka masundot. Tinaas ko lang nang kaunti ‘yung pasa ko. Alam ko naman na makukuha ni Tyler ‘yun. I’m glad na na-convert niya and nagkaroon kami ng kaunting edge doon sa last part ng laro,” he added.
As elated as he was with the win, Lee refuses to fall into complacency, with all of them expecting a grind-out affair to take place for the rest of the series.
“Mahirap. Hindi sila ‘yung sinasabing Phoenix dati. Sobrang solid ng tinatakbo nila. Magaling sila manggulo sa depensa. Yun nga, hindi naman magiging top four yun kung mahina sila,” said the two-time champion.
“Talagang credit din sa Phoenix kasi tinrabaho nila yan at pinagtulung-tulungan nila ‘yan para makarating sila dito sa position na ito,” added Lee. “Again, hindi magiging walk in the park yung mangyayari dito sa semis.”
