PAUL Lee offered no excuses on Magnolia's series opener loss against Rain or Shine in their PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals series.
But for the Hotshots to bounce back and avoid a 0-2 hole in the best-of-five affair, Lee said the team needs to crash the boards more.
The veteran guard noted how the Elasto Painters' 65-45 edge in rebounding spelled the difference in the Hotshots' 109-105 loss in Game 1 Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Rain or Shine held a 20-11 edge on offensive rebounds which led the Elasto Painters to outscore the opposition on second chance points, 27-13.
"They had many offensive rebounds on the last part and I think yun and naging story nung laro offensive rebounding," said Lee, who finished with 15 points along with Jerrick Ahanmisi in a losing cause.
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Magnolia appeared to have the game under control going to the final stretch as it held a 100-91 lead as Ahanmisi and Aris Dionisio waxed hot shooting from long distance.
But suddenly, the Hotshots put their guards down, giving the Elasto Painters the opening they needed for an endgame comeback.
"Nawala kami sa discipline namin especially on defense," said Lee.
A clutch three by rookie Caelan Tiongson capped a telling 12-2 run by Rain or Shine to finally regain back the lead, 103-102 in the final 1:25 minute of the game.
Lee said Tiongson's basket was made possible following an offensive rebound by the Elasto Painters.
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"No excuses. We got the lead pero hindi namin naalagaan," said the guard out of University of the East.
Lee expects the Magnolia coaching staff to point out on those blunders for the Hotshots not to commit again in Friday's Game 2 at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna. (RG)
