Lee handa nang maglaro para sa Gilas Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines - Handa si Paul Lee na maglaro para sa Gilas Pilipinas sa darating na 5th FIBA Asia Cup sa kabila ng paglalaro ng Rain or Shine sa 2014 Governors’ Cup Finals kontra sa San Mig Coffee.

“No problem with me. I’ll be glad to play for the national team in that tournament,” wika ni Lee ukol sa naunang pahayag ni Gilas coach Chot Reyes na gusto siyang makitang maglaro sa FIBA Asia Cup sa Wuhan, China sa Hulyo 11-19.

“And I don’t think I would have a hard time adjusting to international play. I’ve had international stints playing under FIBA rules during my amateur days,” sabi pa ni Lee, isang dating UE Warrior at Cobra/Boracay Rum star sa PBA D-League.

“I don’t think the adjustment to the internatio-nal style of game and rules of play would be a big deal,” dagdag pa nito.

Ang iba pang Gilas pool members na naglalaro sa Governors’ Cup Finals ay sina Marc Pingris ng San Mig Coffee at Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood at Beau Belga ng Rain or Shine.

Sila ay inaasahang hindi isasabak ni Reyes sa torneo sa Wuhan na magsisilbing warm-up compeittion ng Gilas Pilipinas bago sumabak sa FIBA World Cup.

Nagsama-sama ang mga miyembro ng national pool kagabi sa unang pagkakataon matapos ang makasaysayang second-place finish noong 2013 FIBA Asia Cup.

Dalawang buwan bago ang World Cup ay sisimulan nila ang paghahanda kasama ang training camp sa Miami, Florida bago sumabak sa mini-invitational sa Antibes, France.

Ang FIBA Asia Cup ang posibleng maging unang international stint ni Lee.

“If it’s okay with him, I want him in the lineup even if he’s coming from the PBA finals,” sabi ni Reyes kay Lee, ang bagong idinagdag sa Gilas pool.

“He has the tools but it’s hard to say because it’s not just the game that is an issue here. I want to see how he respond playing day after day after day, respond on the pace of our game and react on international play. It’s a lot different,” ani Reyes.