Paul Lee proves that he is still lethal
Paul Lee provided the biggest of shots in a low-scoring Game One that pitted two of the stingiest teams this conference against each other.
With Star up by just two points with 25.4 second remaining, the 27-year-old spun past two defenders, beating the wide-stretched arms of Japeth Aguilar and the shot clock, knocking down a high-arching floater to turn the game into a two-possession affair, 78-74 — the final margin of the game.
The ball wasn’t actually meant to go to Lee. But with the shot clock winding down and Game One on the line, he had to come up with something.
“Tsamba lang yun. Actually broken play nangyari. Hindi nasunod yung play namin galing sa timeout, so take charge lang.
“Kinuha ko lang yung bola kay Rafi [Reavis], at buti umabot. Five seconds na lang ata nung pagkuha ko ng bola, so wala ng isip-isip, atake na agad, nakakita ng open lane, focus lang ako sa tira ko at buti pumasok,” reflected the 27-year-old, who finished the game with 18 points and five rebounds.
This game was a change of scenery for Lee and the Star Hotshots. During the first six games of their now-seven game winning streak, the Hotshots had been blowing out teams left and right — winning all of their games by double-digits. But Game One was a struggle that saw Star shoot 38 percent from the field.
For Lee, who shot just 7-of-18 from the field, it was their defense that had continued to keep them afloat during that frame.
“Yung mga blowout game, hindi naman naming sinasadya na maging ganun eh. Maganda lang talaga yung depensa namin, tapos so opensa maraming open shots,” the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup Finals MVP shared.
“Kanina, ang dami naming open shot, pero hindi kami maka-shoot, so kailangan namin bumalik sa best friend namin, which is yung defense.”
And Lee knows that the setting of the entire series will be as hard or even tougher than this game.
“Simula ngayon hanggang matapos yung series, puro ganun lang yung laro, kasi Ginebra, defensive team, at kami defensive team din. So kung sino yung pinakamatibay dumepensa, yun yung mananalo dito feeling ko.”
