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Magnolia’s Paul Lee was on their bench when his squad was making a last push to salvage a win in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

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Fourth quarter fightback showed Magnolia’s character, says Lee

Rom Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/IMG_1021.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Magnolia’s Paul Lee. Photo from PBA Images"/><span class="fr-inner"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Magnolia’s Paul Lee. <em>Photo from PBA Images</em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Magnolia Hotshots star Paul Lee was on their bench when his squad was making a last push to salvage a win in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.</p><p>It was not until the last 30 seconds of the contest when he returned to the game, giving Lee a front-row seat to the efforts of Russel Esoto, Aris Dionisio, Jed Mendoza, Joseph Eriobu, and the rest of Magnolia’s reserves as they trimmed a 20-point deficit to only five late in the contest.</p><p>But according to the ‘Angas ng Tondo,’ it could’ve easily been avoided if they did not falter in the second quarter.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/2/2/pba-boatwright-perez-take-charge-as-smb-escapes-magnolia-in-game-1-2234" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PBA: Boatwright, Perez take charge as SMB escapes Magnolia in Game 1</a></div><p>“We gave up, I think, 41 points in the second quarter, and I think that was the story,” he said, speaking about the 41-20 second frame scoring wherein they endured three-point barrages from Marcio Lassiter and Bennie Boatwright.</p><p>Lee, who only had six points, gave credit to the group that got them back in the game.</p><p>“I think that&#x27;s the character of the team. We just kept fighting until the end, until the last buzzer, so we just gotta be better in the next game, especially our defense,” he said.</p><p>”Hats off dun sa third group namin. Again yun yung character ng team namin, and sign rin yun na ready lahat maglaro sa amin,” Lee added.</p><p>He also told the reporters that he would also do the same thing if he was also a part of the unit that jump-started the fight back.</p><p>“Ganun naman yun eh, kung sino yung palaruin. Sila, they were just ready to play.”</p><p>“I will do the same thing kung ako yung nasa loob. Magtatrabaho rin ako, so just be ready,” he continued.</p><p>Asked what it would take for him and his squad to bounce back, Lee put more emphasis on disallowing SMB to outscore them by more than 20, and also by outworking them, especially on the defensive side of things.</p><p>“More energy, get better on defense. 41 points is too much, and that was the story of Game 1.”</p><p>Lee and the Hotshots will have the chance to do just that when Magnolia and SMB go at each other again on Sunday, February 4, 6:15 PM, at the MOA Arena.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/2/3/fajardo-san-miguel-focused-on-solving-free-throw-woes-1434">Fajardo, San Miguel focused on solving free-throw woes</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/2/3/victolero-remains-positive-after-magnolia-s-game-1-loss-1303">Victolero remains positive after Magnolia&#x27;s Game 1 loss</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I07XzGn5bXg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Magnolia’s Paul Lee was on their bench when his squad was making a last push to salvage a win in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.</p>