PAUL Lee assured he's fine after rolling his ankle in Game One of the PBA 48th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinal between Magnolia and Phoenix Super LPG.
He proved that late in the fourth quarter of Magnolia’s series opener against Phoenix Super LPG when he issued a drop pass that set up Tyler Bey for a three-point play that helped seal the 82-79 victory for the Hotshots.
Yeng Guiao defends Paul Lee from bashers after another injury scare
Lee got hurt during the nine-minute mark of the second quarter after twisting his ankle during a battle for possession with Phoenix import Johnathan Williams.
The Magnolia player, however, returned during the same period, and eventually made the key pass late in the contest.
Lee himself played down the injury, although he admitted that he also got worried.
“Okay naman. Okay naman siya. May konting pain pero okay lang. Kaya naman ilaro ito,” said Lee, no stranger to injuries during past playoff campaigns for Magnolia.
“Siyempre, wala namang tao na gustong mangyari ‘yun. I think kasama rin ‘yun sa style of play ko. Tapos semis, expect mo na pisikal, mas maraming duma-dive sa floor. Kung mangyayari ‘yun, mangyayari ‘yun sa 'yo. Wala namang player na ginugusto na may ma-injure.”
Lee downplays ankle sprain
Lee said the ankle sprain didn’t bother him over the course of the game, which also helped him make plays late including that feed to Bey.
“Actually, parang broken play siya. Nagkaroon kami ng side pick-and-roll. Nagkaroon ng opportunity dahil nagkaroon ng miscommunication ‘yung bantay namin doon. Naka-draw ako ng depensa sa loob,” said Lee.
“Actually, nagdadalawang isip ako kung icha-challenge ko ‘yung import. Pero nakita ko naman ‘yung weak side nila, maliliit na. Hindi ko na binounce pass. Tinaasan ko ng konti ‘yung pasa ko. Alam ko naman na makukuha ni Tyler ‘yun. I’m glad na na-convert niya at nagkaroon kami ng konting edge. Sobrang crucial ‘yung moment na ‘yun,” said Lee.
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