MABIGAT man sa kanyang kalooban ay sinabi ni Paul Lee na hindi siya makalalaro para sa Gilas Pilipinas dahil sa iniindang injury sa kaliwang tuhod.
“I am really saddened by this,” sabi ni Lee. “It is painful for me to skip the Gilas team this year, especially since the (Olympic Qualifying Tournament) will be held here (in Manila).” Sinabi na rin niya ang balitang ito kay Gilas coach Tab Baldwin.
“But telling (coach Baldwin) of my decision got a lot off my chest,” dagdag pa ng point guard ng Rain or Shine na hinirang bilang Most Valuable Player ng katatapos na PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals kontra Alaska. “I really cannot do anything about it (injury). I really need to rest,” aniya.
Sari-saring injury ang natamo ng 27-anyos na manlalaro sa huling dalawang taon kabilang ang partial tear sa kanyang kanang tuhod na dahilan kung bakit hindi siya nakapaglaro sa unang bahagi ng Commissioner’s Cup eliminations.
“I needed to take a lot of pain-killers (just to be able to play),” aniya. Tinanggap naman ni Baldwin ang desisyon ni Lee bagaman nanghihinayang siya dahil malaki aniya ang maitutulong ni Lee sa pambansang koponan.“We all saw what he is capable of doing in the Finals,” sabi ni Baldwin.
“As for Gilas, it’s a misfortune for us. I think he would be an asset to the team but we don’t have him (now).” Si Lee ang ikatlong miyembro ng Gilas Pilipinas pool na nawala sa lineup. Nauna nang nagpasabi sina Greg Slaughter at defensive whiz Matt Ganuelas-Rosser na hindi sila makakasali sa Gilas practice dahil sa magka-hiwalay na ankle injury na kailangang operahan.
“It’s reality. It happens every single year,” sabi ni Baldwin. “Hardly ever in my career that have I gone into any season or campaign with a fully healthy team. It’s part and parcel of being in sports, in professional sports.”