By MARK REY MONTEJO
An unwanted present was given to Magnolia talismanic guard Paul Lee on his 35th birthday on Wednesday, Feb. 14, which is also an important day for everyone –young and old – as it was a Valentine’s Day.
That’s because the Hotshots suffered a heartbreaking meltdown that ruined what could be a great birthday celebration for the pride of Tondo.
Without batting an eyelash, Lee admitted that it was his saddest birthday ever since he started to make a name dating back to his collegiate days at the University of the East.
“Probably the saddest birthday,” an emotional Lee said after San Miguel Beer sealed the series victory with a dramatic104-102 win in Game 6 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Still, Lee was grateful for the opportunity to play once again in the finals and for finishing the series without an injury.
“But marami pa namang bagay na pwedeng ipagpasalamat, unang-una natapos ‘yong game na walang nasaktan, natapos ko ‘yong series na laging sinasabi sakin na hindi ko natapos dahil na-iinjury ako,” he added.
“So ‘yon ‘yong mga bagay na dapat kong ipagpasalamat,”
For a while, Lee looked headed to a grand birthday bash as the Hotshots controlled most part of the game as he made one huge triple after another.
Lee, who finished with 25 points, said it was San Miguel which proved steadier and deadlier down the stretch.
“Credit to San Miguel, they (Beermen) really wanted [to win] tonight, so move-on na lang, tomorrow is another day,” Lee added.
“We have really good chance naman, marami kaming kailangan ayusin as a team. We need to be solid from start to finish, ‘yon lagi sinasabi samin ni coach Chito [Victolero],” Lee concluded.
Magnolia was leading comfortably, 95-86, halfway through the fourth quarter before the Beermen staged a whirlwind assault that proved too much for the Hotshots to contain.
Booming triples from Jericho Cruz, Chris Ross and CJ Perez in the waning minutes of the final frame completely turned the game around for San Miguel.
And that made birthday boy Paul Lee very sad.
