PAUL Lee's struggles in the PBA Governors Cup semifinals can be traced to a sprained left ankle he hurt a few days before the start of the series against Meralco.
The hotshot guard made it clear he’s not making excuses for his struggles in the three games played so far, but admitted he’s been bothered by the injury.
“Before the semis started, I got a sprained ankle. I kept battling with my sprained ankle. I don’t want to make that as an honest excuse, but it keeps bothering me,” a forlorn Lee said in the aftermath of the Hotshots’ 101-95 Game 3 loss to the Bolts on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“It’s just hard for me.”
The struggle especially on the offensive end became even more obvious in Magnolia’s second straight loss in the series as he was held to just five points, two rebounds, and two assists on 2-of-9 shooting from the floor.
For the series, Lee is averaging 9.3 points - well below par by his lofty standards.
What Lee lamented though was again being bothered by an injury in the semifinals just like what happened to him during the Philippine Cup when he hurt his shoulder during the series, incidentally also against Meralco.
Not again
“I know it’s the playoffs, it’s the semis and it happened again,” he recalled. “Paulit-ulit. Pero I don’t want to make that as an excuse.”
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Game 4 of the best-of-five series is set Wednesday with Magnolia needing a win to stay alive in the hunt for a championship berth.
Lee is not giving up on the top-seeded Hotshots though, even with him having to play through another injury.
“Next game mentality. Let’s get back to the drawing boards and be ready for the next game,” he said.
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