MANILA – Magnolia Hotshots star Paul Lee downplayed his impending encounter with former team Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup semifinals starting tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lee, who was selected No. 2 overall by the Painters in the 2011 PBA Rookie Draft, said it is not a big deal for him to face his former team in the Final Four and will instead focus on helping the Hotshots reach the finals.
“Hindi naman eto ‘yung laban sa akin at ng Rain or Shine,” Lee said. “But for sure magiging magandang game. Kasi last time na nakalaban namin sila quarterfinals ata at may import, pero iba ‘yung All-Filipino.”
He added: “Kailangan ko lang maging ready and maging ready ‘yung buong team,” added the 30-year-old Lee, who have won two championships with the Painters before he was traded for ex-Hotshots star James Yap three years ago.
Lee also said he likes Hotshots’ chances against the Painters especially they were on a roll lately capped by their ouster of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the quarterfinals last Wednesday night.
“Kahit na ‘yung start namin (sa elimination round) 0-3. Hindi pa rin kami nawalan ng tiwala sa isa’t-isa. Ayun ‘yung maganda dun, positive pa rin kami,” said the former PBA Rookie of the Year awardee.
He added: “Pinakita ng team ‘yung character. Nagtulong-tulong lang kami. Napag-usapan namin na kailangan lang namin is ‘yung chance, and nabigyan kami ng chance nung elimination kaya sana magtuloy-tuloy.”
The Hotshots are eyeing its second straight PBA championship after ruling the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup late last year.
The squad was also a runner-up in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup to four-time titlist San Miguel Beermen./PN
