Rain or Shine is not willing to let go of its prized guard Paul Lee as team owners Raymond Yu and Terry Que yesterday tendered a three-year offer worth P15 million, according to former PBA chairman and Board of Governors representative Mamerto Mondragon.
Mondragon said if Lee decides to bite the offer, the 2012 Rookie of the Year stands to receive P420,000 a month.
Mondragon said he has relayed the mouth-watering offer to Lee’s handler, Lawrence Chongson.
Lee, whose contract with the Elasto Painters lapses Aug. 31, is currently out of the country training alongside members of the Gilas-Pilipinas squad bidding to come up with a decent showing in the FIBA World Cup in Spain and the 17th Asian Games in Incheon.
Mondragon describes the conversation with Chongson as “very cordial,” adding that he hopes to complete the negotiations by next week.
Rain or Shine had initially dangled a two-year offer but the owners decided to go the whole nine yards after Mondragon conferred with the owners.
But Chongson was non-committal, saying the contract is still binding and that Lee, selected No. 2 overall by Rain or Shine in 2012, is still overseas.
Lee’s stock skyrocketed recently after leading Gilas-Pilipinas to a third-place finish in the FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, drilling in three free throws with no time left against the vaunted Chinese squad.
Gilas-Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes had included Lee to the roster at the last minute and the former University of the East star’s showing has proven to be a revelation.
If Lee decides to turn a blind eye on the new contract and let his current contract expire, Rain or Shine has 30 days – the whole of September – to make it more appealing.
It will only be until the 30-day period that Lee will be allowed to entertain offers from other squads but Rain or Shine still has the right to match.
San Miguel is said to be keenly interested in signing up Lee but Edgar Tan, tabbed to help manage Lee, said the cager wants to stay with his current team.