AARON Black was hands down the Outstanding Rookie of the last PBA Philippine Cup bubble.
But like any other newcomer, the Meralco guard too, had his own 'welcome to the PBA moment' last year.
And his was courtesy of Magnolia top gun Paul Lee.
No physical play involved whatsoever. It's just a plain, brilliant play converted by Lee which, Black admitted, he had seen time and time again, and yet still fell prey to it.
The son of Meralco coach Norman Black recalled he was playing well against the Hotshots that time when the 32-year-old Lee suddenly decided to pull off one of his signature moves.
Sponsored content:
"I just hit a big three on our own end. Tapos nagka-iba ng match-up, so pagbaba namin, nakuha ko si Paul Lee," Black narrated as he appeared in the latest episode of the PBA Kamustahan.
"So I guess, Paul Lee was thinking 'oh, here's a rookie.' So una niyang ginawa, cross niya ako, humingi ng pick, nag cross ulit, tapos ibinalik niya," Black added.
Lee's move was swift and emphatic Black lost him on defense.
"Pagbalik niya, wala na ako. I totally spun around," said the incoming sophomore guard. "Tapos siguro mga three or four feet away from beyond the three-point line, he took a three and made it."
Black could do nothing but scratch his head.
Sponsored content:
"Nakita ko na yun before. Napapanood ko na yun dati, e," said the former Ateneo playmaker.
Black had Lee included in his list as among the toughest matchup he had during his rookie season.
Good thing for Black, the Bolts won that match against the Hotshots in overtime, 109-104.
Black finished with 16 points behind top scorer Chris Newsome (23 points), who teamed up with Trevis Jackson in coming through with clutch baskets during the extra period.
Lee had a game-high 32 points in a losing cause for the Hotshots.(RG)
