LEE BELIEVES NOW IS ROS’ BEST CHANCE FOR 2ND TITLE
Was it just at the beginning of the season when everybody was keeping tab on the Paul Lee saga at Rain or Shine?
Talks of his contract extension floated in the media, and for the first time since he entered the league back in the 2011 Draft, the pride of Tondo seemed like he was about to go on an uncertain ride on to whatever team he might be playing for the 2015 season.
Fast forward two conferences later and Lee is on pace for a possible Best Player of the Conference plum while leading the Elasto Painters to the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
For Lee, the recipe is simple.
“Simula nung pumirma ulit ako sa Rain or Shine, binuhos ko yung buong loob ko dito. Talagang gusto ko rin ipakita na andito ang loob ko kasi dito ako pumirma. Gusto ko rin suklian yung tiwala sa akin ni coach Yeng (Guiao),” he said.
Averaging a career-best 16.79 points, 5.79 rebounds, and 3.21 assists, Lee has been the rock for the E-Painters in their quest for a second franchise title.
“Hard work lang naman yan eh,” he said. “Pag nagpractice ka, dinodoble mo yung effort mo sa practice, lumalabas sa game yan lahat.”
With a chance to win the Best Player citation, the 2012 Rookie of the Year feels honored given the balanced system Guiao employs on Rain or Shine.
“Blessing sa akin yun kasi kung wala naman yung buong tiwala sa akin ni coach Yeng at ng buong team, di siguro ako magiging contender. Sa team namin, equal lahat ang minutes. Di kami lumalagpas ng 30 minutes, pero ganyan yung nangyari. Blessing talaga yun,” he said.
Lee also refuses to take the alpha dog tag for the contenders, saying, “Simula nung dumating ako sa team na ‘to, coach Yeng yan eh. Hindi ko team ‘to. Hindi kay Jeff Chan, Beau Belga, o Gabe Norwood. Lahat kami ‘to, walang superstar dito. Nagtatrabaho lang kami lahat kaya maganda ang resulta every game.”
And as they close in on the Commissioner’s Cup trophy, Lee believes that this is the E-Painters’ biggest shot for the title.
“This is the best chance na manalo kami ng championship. Healthy si Wayne (Chism), healthy yung buong team, so kailangan talaga i-grab na namin ‘to,” he said. “Yun ang aim namin every conference. Nireremind din kami ni coach na kahit di kami nagcha-champion, at least umabot kami sa Finals. Magandang senyales pa rin na naeexperience namin lahat yun at sama-sama kami.”
Now waiting on the sidelines for their Finals opponent, Lee would rather not make a choice on which between Purefoods Star and Talk n Text would be a better matchup for them.
“Kahit sino paghahandaan namin. Mahirap mamili tapos tatalunin kami. Kung ano na lang yung tadhana namin sa Finals, yun na lang siguro,” he said. (RL)
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