The PBA Philippine Cup hiatus somehow allows Magnolia Hotshot star Paul Lee to rehabilitate from a hamstring injury.
Lee was limited in the Hotshots’ 105-83 thrashing of Terrafirma last week as he favored his injured leg.
In the team’s fourth straight win to stay atop the standings, he only played 11 minutes and finished with five points on 1-of-5 shooting from the field.
In the team’s first three games, the veteran combo guard averaged 19 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Coach Chito Victolero decided not to give Lee much playing time as a precaution and instead kept him on the bench.
“It’s not a major injury I think,” Victolero said.
“Kausap ko na naman si Paul and yung mga PT namin. We just wanted to make sure lang. Siguro pahinga lang ng mga ilang araw,” he added.
That’s precisely what Lee had gotten, as it’s been exactly a week since the Hotshots’ 22-point thrashing of the Dyip.
And, with the season-opening meet being postponed due to the COVID-19 case of Delta variant outbreak, the playmaker will have more time to heal from his injury.
Lee, on the other hand, had previously had his hamstring checked out and told the league-leading Hotshots that everything was good with him.
“I’m good. Just need to rest lang,” Lee said.
Lee, prior to his injury, was averaging a team-high 19.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 31 minutes.