Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Paul Lee didn’t look like someone who just recovered from a knee injury when he took the court on Wednesday.
In his first game back, Lee reintroduced himself in leading Magnolia to a 108-95 victory over Alaska.
“I’m very happy with how I feel. I feel like I just graduated in college,” he shared on Wednesday as the Hotshots started their 2018 PBA Philippine Cup on a winning note.
Lee blitzed his way to 30 points on a superb 11-of-14 shooting, on top of seven rebounds and six assists.
“Paul just practiced with us for three days, but you can really see the heart of the kid. He really wants to play, he wants to help the team, and I’m very thankful to Paul,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
Rust was not a factor for Lee, who used his time off the court as an opportunity to rest his body and have fresh legs.
“I didn’t do much when I returned to practice. I rested on Monday and our practice yesterday wasn’t that intense, so I felt I really saved energy for my legs today,” he said.
“I felt lucky with my shots so I took advantage of the open shots. Also, if my teammates were open, I also tried my best to find them.”
The 28-year-old Lee feels like he’s slowly closing in on getting back to his tip-top shape.
“I feel like I’m getting my groove back,” he said.