After leading by as many as 22 points, the Magnolia Hotshots could not do much when Barangay Ginebra San Miguel staged a furious rally in the Christmas edition of the Manila Clasico.
Paul Lee was almost at a loss for words after Magnolia wasted a double-digit lead in the 95-92 loss to Ginebra in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
The Hotshots saw a 22-point advantage slowly dissipate as the Gin Kings staged a furious rally in the second half behind rookie RJ Abarrientos, Justin Brownlee, and Scottie Thompson.
“'Di ko alam kung anong masasabi ko,” said Lee, who wound up with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals in a losing effort.
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Lee eventually found the right words to say.
“But I think we collapsed in the second half. I mean, RJ Abarrientos happened in the second half,” he added of the young Ginebra guard, who finished with 20 points built on five three-pointers.
“Ang bigat nung second half niya. 'Yun ang key don sa panalo niya. 'Yun ang nagbigay ng another life para sa kanila.”
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The Hotshots now fall to 2-5 and are in danger of missing the playoffs at the rate things are going.
Asked if Magnolia should press the panic button, Lee did not seem as deflated as he was when the first question during the interview was fired.
“Siguro ano lang, for me, in my opinion, masyado nang mabigat ['yung] mga nangyari like you said. It's a matter of how we're gonna gather 'yung sarili namin, kung pano magsasama pa rin kami at hindi mag-gi-give up sa isa't isa,” Lee said.
“Marami pa naman kaming games. And mas importante na mag-focus pa kami sa next game kaysa mag-pinpoint kami sa isa't isa sa pagkatalo namin. I think 'di 'yon yung pinakamagandang pwedeng mangyari ngayon.”
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Magnolia returns to practice on the 29th in preparation for its game against Terrafirma on January 10 next year at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.