Paul Lee allayed fears of a major calf injury after sitting out Magnolia’s eventual group-phase sweep of Ginebra on Sunday in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.
The veteran guard said that he suffered no tear whatsoever and has only been experiencing tightness in his right calf, the reason why he’s yet to see action for the Hotshots since the season-ending conference resumed last Wednesday.
“Hindi naman sobrang seryoso. Wala namang napunit or anything. Tightness lang nung calf talaga,” he said moments after their decisive 112-93 victory to become the first team from Group B to secure a quarterfinal berth.
It is actually the second straight game that Lee was reduced to a spectator, having missed the team’s 107-101 win over Blackwater last Friday.
Asked about how he sustained the injury, the 37-year-old said that he felt off about his calf during one of their practices leading up to the resumption.
“Sa practice lang, nung nagwa-warm up kami,” he said. “Actually, nakapaglaro pa ako sa tune-up namin sa Phoenix. May shootaround kami nung umaga. Actually, nafi-feel ko na roon na parang nagta-tight na siya.
“Tapos nung regular practice namin sa hapon, ayun na, nagwa-warm up kami, parang umangat ‘yung calf muscle ko,” added Lee.
Of course, he was a bit worried, knowing how tricky a calf injury could be, so they all sighed with relief when no tear was found.
Still, Coach LA Tenorio and the rest of the brain trust deemed it best to let their resident gunner get all the rest he can get before going back to action.
“Tightness lang nung calf muscle. Coach LA decided na ‘wag na lang pilitin kasi baka mapunit, mas lalong matagal ‘yung recovery,” he said.
Lee now hopes the time between now and their final group-phase game against Rain or Shine on October 21 will be enough for him to be healthy enough to play, and to loosen up before the playoffs.
“Hopefully, makaabot ako kahit papano; may isang game akong maabutan going into the playoffs,” said the former BPC.
“Until now, day-to-day pa rin naman ‘yung situation ko and aggressive naman ‘yung mga PT namin.”
