Paul Lee isn’t pointing a finger at anyone after Magnolia collapsed against Rain or Shine in their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal opener on Wednesday night.
There’s no one to blame but themselves, said the star gunner, after losing a lead as big as 10 early in the fourth, as Jhonard Clarito and the rest of their youth-laden foes showed better composure against the more experienced Hotshots.
“Nawala kami sa discipline namin, especially on defense,” he lamented moments after their 109-105 defeat at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Lee and Co. actually held a 102-98 lead after Rome dela Rosa’s perfect trip from the line with 2:54 remaining, but the crew would lose their touch on offense while the wards of Coach Yeng Guiao pounced on it and got their flow.
Proving to be the tough blow to Magnolia was the three of Caelan Tiongson, as it put Rain or Shine ahead for good, 103-102, with 1:25 left to play.
It didn’t help, too, that Rayvonte Rice fouled Andrei Caracut at mid-court with 33.4 seconds left, a time where they were already in penalty.
Lee disclosed that it was a miscommunication between the coaches and their import, who top-scored for them with 16 points on 20 attempts.
“‘Yung last part, dapat ‘di fumoul import namin. So, miscommunication. Pagkakarinig niya foul, sinasabi namin, ‘No foul,‘” he explained.
Lee isn’t holding Rice liable, either, despite that error.
“Bago lang import namin, wala pa yatang two weeks dito sa’min ‘yan,” he said.
“Mahirap din na lumaban sa well-oiled team, no. 1 sa kabilang bracket, tapos may bago kang import. Nandoon kami sa adjustment period,” he added.
The loss wasted not just the team’s solid 6-of-12 shooting from the four-point area — half of which came from Jerrick Ahanmisi (15 points) — but also the efforts of Lee, as he finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, and 13 assists.
But then, the 35-year-old guard is not playing the blame game, that the result of the best-of-five opener is all because of the Hotshots as a collective.
“Dapat ‘di na umabot doon eh,” said Lee. “Medyo malaki na ‘yung lamang namin. The problem was, ‘di namin naalagaan lamang namin.”
