PAUL Lee said he is all for Magnolia’s deep rotation as it has developed the trust among the players, leading to the Hotshots’ hot start in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The Hotshots now have a 6-0 win-loss record with Lee scoring 27 points on 4 of 5 shooting from four in their 117-92 victory over Meralco last Wednesday.
In that game, Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero fielded all 14 players in the active roster with Lee playing 21 minutes.
READ: Victolero's deeper rotation working wonders for red-hot Magnolia
The 36-year-old Lee, one of the veterans in the team, attested that Magnolia’s strategy of spreading the minutes have led to his teammates building their confidence.
“Actually, malaking bagay sa amin kasi ‘yung rotation namin, humahaba at doon, ‘yung trust nabubuo,” said Lee.
“Hopefully, ma-keep namin ‘yung ganitong pace kasi ‘yung sistema namin ngayon, mabilis talaga. Credit talaga sa lahat.”
Lee’s four fours tied teammate Jerrick Ahanmisi for most in a single game which he set in September 1, 2024 game against Terrafirma.
Coincidentally, Ahanmisi, Lee said, has benefited from the extended minutes as he is now regaining his form from previous conferences.
Ahanmisi played six minutes and scored four points which also came from beyond the four-point arc.
Prior to Wednesday’s game, Ahanmisi also made a four on his way to finishing with 11 points against Terrafirma, his best scoring output since he hit 12 points against Converge in the second game of the Commissioner’s Cup last conference last December 1.
“Kung sino ipasok ngayon, like si Jerrick, last two games, maganda ginagawa niya. Hindi siya naglaro last couple of games namin. Game 4 and Game 5 namin, ginamit siya ni coach, nag-deliver siya," Lee said.
“Credit sa lahat. Tulungan talaga."
Even Lee appeared to have benefited from it as well as he hasn’t had a prolific scoring output like Wednesday’s game since he had 22 points in the Hotshots’ quarterfinal loss to NorthPort in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Lee has now hit double figures this conference for the fourth straight time, unlike in the last conference where he only had three following an injury-plagued campaign.
But Lee deflected the credit.
“Nothing special naman. Sabi ko kanina, credit sa mga teammates ko. Hindi lang naman sa akin. Actually, we have 25 assists ngayong game na ‘to (against Meralco). Consistent kami sa aspect na ‘yun. Nagkataon lang na ako ‘yung natutok ngayon sa akin ‘yung mga open shots," he said.
“In the previous game, laging fiesta si Zav Lucero kasi siya ‘yung naiiwan na open. Ngayon, nagkataon na ako ‘yung nandoon sa spot na ‘yun. Luckily, I made those shots,” Lee added.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
