By REYNALD MAGALLON
If there was something that left a lasting impression on Magnolia star Paul Lee after their first semis encounter with Phoenix, it was the fact that the Fuel Masters are proving to be a real deal.
The veteran guard heaped praises to Phoenix who even with a young and inexperienced core, managed to hold their own against a veteran-laded Magnolia team.
The Fuel Masters even had the top seed Hotshots on the ropes in the waning seconds if not for Lee saving the day with a great feed to import Tyler Bey that gave Magnolia an edge in the end game and ultimately, save the team some blushes.
“Mahirap, mahirap. Hindi sila yung sinasabing Phoenix dati. Sobrang solid ng tinatakbo nila. Magaling sila manggulo sa depensa. Hindi naman magiging top four yun kung mahina sila,” Lee said after Magnolia’s 82-79 Game 1 win.
While the Hotshots drew first blood in the best-of-five semis series, Lee was quick to remind his team that it cannot afford to play complacent against a hungry and dangerous team like the Fuel Masters.
“Talagang credit din talaga sa Phoenix kasi tinrabaho nila yan at pinagtulong tulungan nila yan para makarating sila dito sa position na ito. Again, hindi magiging walk in the park yung mangyayari dito sa semis,” added the veteran guard.
Lee, though, made sure to lead by example for Magnolia finishing with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists – his best performance in the last few games of the Hotshots. The sweet shooting guard finding his range along with the game winning play even came after an injury scare when he tweaked his ankle early in the contest.
He, however, quickly shrugged the injury, stressing that he can play through it and ready to take physical hits especially now that Magnolia is already in the playoffs.
“I think kasama rin sa style of play ko. Semis, expect mo yung mas physical, mas maraming duma-dive sa floor. I think kung mangyayari yun, mangyayari talaga sayo eh. Again, wala namang kahit sinong player na ginugusto na ma-injure,” furthered Lee.
