Giving coach Guiao an all-Filipino title is Lee’s motivation in Finals vs TNT

Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao has yet to win an all-Filipino championship.

And that’s what’s driving star guard Paul Lee in his second straight Finals appearance as the Elasto Painters attempt to dethrone perennial champion Talk ‘N Text in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

“Sa Finals lahat kami merong something to prove pati si coach Yeng,” said Lee.

“Ang motivation ko is to give coach Yeng an all-Filipino championship and pati na din ako,” he added.

Lee, the second overall pick in the 2011 Draft, has had an up-and-down performance in the semifinals, where Rain or Shine booted out San Mig Coffee in six games. “Siguro masyado lang akong gigil. Nawalan ako ng control maglaro.”

“In fairness to Paul, he played two bad games and we played six games,” said Guiao, in defense of his sophomore star.

The former University of the East standout, though, would later on downplay his woes.

“Actually ’di naman talaga ako struggle nung semis, it doesn’t matter if I score four or five points, as long as I help my teammates to score for our team to win. ’Di lang siguro nakikita yung iba kong ginagawa,” Lee said.

The six-foot-one Lee also said that to be able to finish the entire Finals series is one of his goals as well.

Lee wasn’t able to return after injuring his shoulder in Game 2 of the PBA Governors Cup Finals, where Rain or Shine outlasted B-Meg in seven games to win its first ever PBA title in franchise history.