Reiterating his return from a knee injury during the all-Filipino title series was rushed, the Elasto Painters star felt zero ill effects this time after he made his midseason tournament debut in a 108-105 win over San Miguel Beer.
“Pilit talaga yun (sa all-Filipino) pero wala naman tayong magagawa kasi kailangan maglaro nung time na yun,” Lee said.
“(Pero) lesson learned,” he was quick to add. “Bakit mo gagawin ulit yung nakasama sa’yo ng una? Kailangan maging maingat ka rin kasi ‘di maganda ang kalalabasan pag naulit ulit.”
Lee, who finished with three points, two assists, and one steal in 15 minutes, stressed he didn’t hold anything back – confident he’s fully recovered from his aggravated injury.
“Kung ano yung ginagawa ko dati, okay naman na ako,” the man they call “Angas ng Tondo” said. “Clear na yung isip ko na wala akong nararamdaman after the game. Doon ko lagi nararamdaman yung masakit sa akin, pagkatapos ng game. Ngayon, all good. Maganda yung pahinga ko.”
Lee, though, stressed he needs to get his timing back.
“Ngayon, medyo nakukuha ko yung full-speed na takbo ko at mabilis yung pag-recover. Medyo yung timing lang, kailangan pa ng practice.”
ROS coach Yeng Guiao agrees.
“He’s still struggling,” the veteran mentor said. “He does not have his legs under him yet. He doesn’t have the fitness yet.
“But he’s very decent,” he was quick to add. “We didn’t expect as much from him. We just wanted him to be broken in this game.”