Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
For Paul Lee, this 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals appearance for Rain or Shine may just be the team’s best chance of winning the crown.
So the Elastopainters are taking full advantage of this shot at the title.
“Wala ng iba pang best chance. Mahirap na magsimula ulit. Napakahirap makapunta ng Finals. Ito na talaga yung best chance,” he said during the Finals press conference Thursday at PBA Cafe in Pasig.
Making it to the championship duel for the first time in three seasons, the Elasto Painters will be parading a squad in full health, with players healing from their injuries just in time for their best-of-7 series against Alaska.
Lee also feels that Rain or Shine can finally exorcise its demons after last year’s heartbreak of a defeat to TNT in double overtime in Game 7 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
“Naka-frame pa sa utak ko yun,” he said, reflecting on his missed three which could have won the second conference title for his team last year.
“Medyo naka-move on na rin naman ako. Mahirap din yung marami kang iniisip. Natalo kami dito last season, same conference. Ito na siguro yung perfect timing na makuha namin yung championship.”
Coming off of a knee injury which sidelined him for majority of the season, the pride of Tondo admits that he still feels some tightness on his legs. However, Lee expressed his readiness to give his all against the hounding Alaska backcourt.
“Basta ready lang ako maglaro. Gagawin ko lang yung trabaho ko, na tulungan yung team hanggang saan yung makakaya ko,” he said.
And Lee is positive that the rest of the Elasto Painters also feel the same way.
“Another chance ito so kailangan talagang paghandaan,” he said. “Alam naman namin na same kami ng Alaska na gusto ring manalo ng championship. Kailangan lang pagtrabahuan pa namin. Hopefully, nagpi-peak na rin kami kaya sana magtuloy-tuloy.”