BACK IN THE GROOVE
Paul Lee just couldn’t wait to get back on the court after suffering a hyperextended right knee in their season opener.
And in the first minutes of their game against Kia, the enigmatic playmaker from tried to do more than what was expected of him.
“Medyo nahirapan lang ako nung unang pasok sa akin ni coach Yeng (Guiao) kasi yung gigil, andun pa rin. Gustong gusto kong maglaro,” he said.
But as he settled down, Lee slowly got his rhythm and started to once again make his presence felt.
“Nung second half, nakuha ko yung tamang flow ng laro,” he said, as he scored 16 points in the last two quarters to finish with 22 points and four rebounds in leading Rain or Shine to a dominating 117-88 rout of Kia.
Lee said that he has already rested his injury, but at times, his eagerness to contribute hurts him.
“I feel okay. Nakapagpahinga ako ng maayos. Wala na namang masakit. Nahihirapan lang ako pag naglalakad ako kasi nagkikiskisan yung tuhod ko kaya inaalalayan ko pa,” he said. “Di pa sya gaanong 100 percent kasi pag nakakalimutan ko, sumasakit pa rin eh kaya kailangan, alalay lang talaga.”
He added, “Cautious ako. Every move ko, mine-make sure kong di mag-straighten yung legs ko para hindi na ma-hyperextend.”
Lee also wanted to atone for his absence in their last game against Blackwater, where the E-Painters shot 0-for-25 from three-point land.
“Nung last game namin against Blackwater, masyado kaming relaxed. Ako yung point guard kaya kailangan kong i-lead yung team sa gusto naming pace na kailangan naming bilisan palagi,” he said.
But Lee said that their shooting was never an issue to start with.
“Tira lang ng tira. Open looks naman yung sa last game. Yung ngayon, na-set up kami. Ang pinagkaiba lang ngayon, na-shoot namin.”
Lee also has kind words for ROS rookie Jericho Cruz.
‘Gusto ko si Jericho. Dumadali ang buhay ko pag kasabay ko sya sa wings. Tumatakbo sya, lagi syang agresibo offense and defense,” Lee
said. (RL)
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