The Final Score: In the PBA, Paul Lee’s big body improves his big game

I know what you’re thinking each time you see Paul Lee on television. “Wow, ang laki ni Paul Lee ngayon.” Don’t deny it. I’ve heard comments about his apparent weight gain. “Sumali na ata si Paul Lee sa Extra Rice Incorporated.” It seems logical. Lee didn’t play for weeks because of an injured shoulder. No play might mean zero practice. No practice might mean zero conditioning. With the Rain or Shine team and its players, however, logic rarely applies.
 

So Lee returns from injury. He looks out of shape. His triple XL shorts, just a few inches away from being pants, don’t help. His arms seem Belga-esque. His upper body is fit for the NFL, not the PBA. Yet he tallies 16 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in his first game back. He follows it up with an 11-point effort in Game One of the Quarterfinals. Rain or Shine wins both games. I thought he was out of shape?

 

“Yung uniform ko kasi, maliit ang pagkakagawa,” Lee revealed. “Pati yung kayla JR (Quiñahan) and kayla Beau (Belga), maliit din pagkakagawa. Pero okay lang. Nakakasindak naman tignan.”

 

Nakakasindak? Rain or Shine’s uniforms are as intimidating as they are misleading. Some will think their players are heavy-set and, therefore, slow and, consequently, beatable. Then, Belga hits a crucial three or Quiñahan drains a clutch pull-up jumper or Lee darts from coast-to-coast, controls the ball with ease, fools two defenders with a super-slow-motion hesitation move and sinks an off-balanced shot off the glass. They win games. They smash perception.

 

“Malakas talaga ako kumain,” Lee admitted. “Pero hanggang two cups of rice lang ako. Sagad na yun. Lalo na kapag pagod. Dinadamihan ko na lang ng ulam. Sila Quiñahan and Belga, mga five cups siguro sila.”
 

To the other PBA teams, I apologize. The more I focus on Rain or Shine’s heft, the more I strengthen the illusion. The truth is, Rain or Shine is neither slow nor lethargic. They can run with fast teams. They can play deliberate with half-court teams. The truth is, Paul Lee is neither under-conditioned nor overweight. He can already run with faster players. He can already play deliberate during half-court games.

 

I asked, “Ano timbang mo ngayon?”

 

Paul answered, “209 (lbs.).”

 

I replied, “Ano timbang mo before you got injured?”

 

He said, “210 (lbs.).” 


See, Paul even lost weight. But he will never wish to weigh even less. He’s used to his playing weight now. He actually gained weight when he joined the PBA by design. It was his way of preparing for bigger defenders. Good move Paul, even if tight jerseys make you seem more plump than usual.

 

Yet if you still believe that Paul eats one cup of carbs too many, that’s fine. He plays for Rain or Shine. We’re supposed to doubt that he can do what he does.

 

“Alam ko nagugulat silang lahat,” Lee said. “Nagugulat sila sa akin. Sasabihin nila, ‘Mabilis pala.’ Yung itsura ko na malaki, panggulat lang talaga. Natural lang.” -- GMA News