Magnolia Hotshots defends Paul Lee. PBA . IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines-Paul Lee is no longer grappling with Magnolia’s narrow loss to San Miguel on Sunday night.
And for good reason.
“We can’t do anything about it anymore. We have already lost. It’s time to focus on the next game because that’s what’s important to us—the next game [match]he told reporters shortly after Fail 100-98 at the hands of seniors with San Miguel Beer at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Lee really had every reason to sulk over the defeat, which would have given the club its first victory in the Governors Cup.
He had 19 points in his opening game to beat all the Hotshots, and found a controversial three-point attempt that would change the outcome.
But he gave it all up.
“As the coach (Chito Victolero) said before, he couldn’t ask for more. Until the last minute, the team did not give up. We tried our best but we just fell short, so now we have to move on and look forward to the next game,” he said.
Magnolia have lost three games in a row to open their campaign in the end-of-season conference, but that has barely shaken Lee’s faith in his team.
After all, Hotshots was in this kind of bind.
It can be recalled that Magnolia lost all three of their first three encounters at the 2019 Philippine Cup. Hotshots managed to sort things out and then move into the championship series, creating a duel with the winner. The final winner was Beer San Miguel.
“That’s one thing that coach Chito told us: We still have a lot of games left,” Lee said.
“It will be difficult for us if we are at a disadvantage twice to beat (in the knockout stages). But no matter what, the important thing is that we try to do it. And if we’re at a two-fold disadvantage to beat, then I guess we’ll have to work harder.”
Lee feels things would be different for Magnolia if Ian Sangalang were healthy: “We all know who he is and what he can bring to the team.”
“We couldn’t find someone to go under the basket. But there’s nothing we can do about his situation other than to pray and just hope he gets better soon.”
“And hopefully he’ll help us again,” he added.
Magnolia will try to finally win against Phoenix this Friday.
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