Paul Lee was quick to downplay Magnolia’s blistering start into the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup, reminding the team hasn’t achieved anything yet.
The Hotshots on Wednesday turned back NLEX, 112-109, for their fifth win in as many games — and to once again seize the solo lead of the standings.
According to the league’s stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, it is the team’s best start in 12 conferences under head coach Chito Victolero.
It is also their finest start overall since a franchise-best 7-0 in the 2008 Philippine Cup under Ryan Gregorio, a campaign that resulted in a Finals trip.
“We just take it one game at a time. 5-0 is nothing,” said Lee after the match at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“We haven’t won anything yet. That’s our mentality.”
Still, there’s no denying that Magnolia is in the midst of an impressive stretch, given the fact that it doesn’t have key guys Calvin Abueva and Rome Dela Rosa plus rookie James Laput as the trio are sidelined due to injuries.
The win per se against the Road Warriors was noteworthy as well. The Hotshots trailed by 14 points late in the third canto, until Lee and Co. retaliated in the final frame and eventually hacked out yet another close win.
Lee, who finished with 21 points. tipped his hat to the other guys for allowing the crew to come back and deal the opposition their third loss in a row.
The 33-year-old gunner buckled down to work in the fourth alongside Mike Harris, Ian Sangalang, and Mark Barroca. But the young ones such as Jio Jalalon, Adrian Wong, and Aris Dionisio contributed as well.
Jalalon finished with a near double-double of nine points and 11 assists, with four rebounds. New guy Wong, meanwhile, scored eight points, all of which he made in the first half as Magnolia exchanged blows with NLEX.
Then there’s Dionisio, who according to Victolero wasn’t at 100 percent but still contributed seven markers and four boards. He was part of the unit that chipped away the deficit in the fourth, and even tied it up at 92-all with 7:50 left.
“Just wanna give credit dun sa second group namin,” Lee said.
“Sila ‘yung nagbigay talaga ng buhay sa’min, kumbaga ginawan nila ng paraan para makabalik kami to win the game.”
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