PAUL Lee and Chris Ross said their physical clash on Sunday night was nothing more than two warriors going hard at each other.
The two guards obviously got into each other’s skin midway through the second quarter of their PBA Philippine Cup clash which ended with San Miguel dealing Magnolia a second straight loss, 113-92, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lee and Ross got entangled in the shaded lane with 6:15 left in the first half and the Beermen protecting a 42-26 lead. The Magnolia guard was whistled for a foul after a hit on Ross that left the San Miguel playmaker sprawled on the floor for a few minutes.
In the next play, Ross banged hard on Lee as he drove to the basket, resulting in an outright offensive foul.
But Lee downplayed the incident after the game, saying physicality is expected in a contact sport like basketball.
“It’s part of the game. Physical lang talaga,” said the 29-year-old former University of the East stalwart, who finished with 16 points and five rebounds.
“Normal lang naman yun. Basketball yung nilalaro natin, e.”
Ross expressed the same sentiment.
“We’re just playing basketball. Body bump is all part of the game,’ stressed the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, who had six points, five rebounds, and three assists.
San Miguel management actually was quick to patch things up between the two.
Just before the second half, San Miguel Corp. Sports Director Alfrancis Chua was seen approaching both Lee and Ross and talking to them at courtside.
The two later exchanged fives before going back to their respective benches.
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