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Paul Lee ecstatic about joining Gilas pool

Rain Or Shine star guard Paul Lee was taking a much-deserved retreat in Boracay with his family the day after his team suffered a heartbreaking loss to San Mig Super Coffee in the finals of the PLDT-myDSL PBA Philippine Cup when he learned of his inclusion in the 17-man training pool for the Philippine National Men’s team, known as Gilas Pilipinas, to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain this year.

“I can’t express how happy I was when I got the news. I was having a short vacation with my family in Boracay. I still felt down because of our loss in the finals. But then, Coach Aboy (Castro) called me and told me about the good news,” said an ecstatic Lee moments after Gilas’ first practice on Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The former University of the East ace playmaker admitted that he read in the Internet that he was being considered in the pool but did not take the news seriously until a team official got in touch with him. Castro, the Gilas team manager, made the call on a Friday afternoon, or two days after the PBA finals.

“Coach Aboy said that they recognized my good work ethic on the hard court, and my will to win. I felt so happy that I immediately called my parents in Tondo and also informed my grandparents in the US.”

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This is the first time that Lee will be part of the national pool although he was also invited last year by Gilas coach Chot Reyes the Asian Championship. “It’s my first time to become a candidate for the national team. I was invited last year but learned about it too late as I had already booked a flight to the US to visit my grandparents. I had wanted to join last year. But now the doors opened for me again and this time I’m not letting this chance slip away.”

Lee had a colorful career in the amateur ranks and immediately made waves in his debut year in the PBA. A highly skilled combo guard, the 6’2” Tondo native seems like a perfect fit to Reyes’ dribble-drive offense. But more importantly, he gives the national squad more size at the backcourt.

“I think my toughness will be my most important contribution to the team. We have excellent guards in Jayson (William), LA (Tenorio) and Jimmy (Alapag). But in the World Cup, the other teams’ guards will be much taller and heftier. And so, I think my role can be to defend against these big guards.”

The Philippines is in a tough group that includes former World champions Greece and Argentina, Croatia, Puerto Rico and Senegal. “It’s a really tough group but I think that for as long a we play as a team, anything’s possible. We should just stick together and play our best,” adds Lee.

“I hope the Filipino people will support the 12 players that will make it to the final line-up. We are doing this for flag and country. No matter what the odds are, we will be there giving it our best.”