Rain or Shine guard Paul Lee. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Leaving his team for the past half a decade, what shocked Paul Lee more was being on the other end of a blockbuster trade for a veteran like James Yap.
“Doon ako pinakanagulat, kasi nung nalaman ko, di sinabi kung sino ang kapalit ko. Di ko inexpect na si James [Yap], so noong tinext na ako ng mga kakilala ko na si James yung tinrade. Doon ako talaga na-shock,” he said.
Lee appeared before his new Star teammates for the first time on its Friday morning practice.
He knows he has big shoes to fill as he tries to plug the hole left by Yap, a two-time league Most Valuable Player.
“Yun ang di ko ma-explain na feeling, kasi James Yap yun at di ko alam ang expectations sa akin,” he said. “Hindi ko alam kung pressure ang nararamdaman ko, pero may pressure pa rin kasi si James yung nawala sa kanila. Mabigat na role yun.”
But the 2012 Rookie of the Year knows that it’s just a matter trusting the process, the same way he did with the Elasto Painters under coach Yeng Guiao.
“Iniisip ko na lang yung mga natutunan ko kay coach Yeng. Di naman kaya i-resolve ng isang player yan. Kailangan ko lang tulungan yung team at nagtulungan kami for great success this coming conference and season,” he said.
Lee, though, isn’t the only newcomer for Star as his entry will also coincide with the arrival of new coach Chito Victolero.
The guard out of Tondo sees this as an advantage for him as he seeks to start anew with the rest of the Hotshots.
“Ok din kasi kahit paano, bago yung coach kaya bago lahat. Halos sabay-sabay kami tinuturuan kaya mas pabor sa akin. Sabay-sabay kaming matututo. Bagong team ito so enjoy ulit,” he said.
Lee will enter contract extension talks with his new team once his agent Lawrence Chongson returns on October 24.