Paul Lee reacts to the Slaughter-Lassiter pull-out issue

Gilas practice

Paul Lee and LA Tenorio look on as the bigs take the floor. (Czeasar Dancel/NPPA Images)

Barangay Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter and San Miguel Beer’s Marcio Lassiter gave the same reason for pulling out from the 17-man Gilas Pilipinas pool. They both thought that the original 12 members of Gilas, those who were with the team when they got a silver in the FIBA Asia Championship, should be the same 12 going to Spain.

Slaughter and Lassiter both said they didn’t want to take away a slot from the 12, which explained their decision to pull out. These statements could have unintentionally placed the other additional players in a bad light. Now Paul Lee, Jared Dillinger, and to a lesser extent Beau Belga might be looked at by some as players gunning for a spot in the team traveling to Spain even if they were not there to help the team qualify.

Lee, however, has no ill feelings towards Slaughter and Lassiter.

“Respetuhin na lang natin yung decision nila,” the point guard said after his Rain or Shine Elasto Painters lost their 2014 Commissioner’s Cup debut against the Barako Bull Energy. “Sa kanila naman yun e. Yun yung gusto nila so respetuhin na lang natin.”

Lee and Dillinger were selected by Gilas head coach Chot Reyes as he wanted taller guards who can compete against the field in the FIBA Asia World Cup. Belga, on the other hand, was the last cut from the team that competed in the FIBA Asia Championship.

“May point rin kasi yung dahilan nila na kung sino yung nagdala sa FIBA Asia, sila rin yung dapat nasa Spain,” Lee continued. “Pero for me, pag kinuha ka sa pool, hindi lang naman Spain yung pinaguusapan e, meron rin namang Asian Games. Para sa akin, kung kinuha ka, may nakita si coach Chot na pwede mong maitulong or mai-contribute sa team.”

Lee then clarified that he is not out to take a spot from the original Gilas 12.

“Kung hindi naman ako makukuha dun sa 12, wala namang problema. Basta ako nandun ako para tumulong, para tulungan rin silang mag-improve. Kahit pahirapan ko lang sila sa practice, at least may contribution ako,” the point guard said. “At hindi rin natin alam, wala namang may gustong mangyari pero pag may na-injure sa kanila, mahirap naman kung wala sa pool yung ipapalit. Kaya at least kami nila Beau at Jared  kung sakaling may ma-i-injure dun sa 12, pwede naming punan kahit papano.”