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From the streets of Tondo to the international basketball spotlight: Paul Lee's success story
"Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" is a weekly news magazine show hosted by Jessica Soho, one of the most awarded broadcast journalists in the Philippines. For more information, follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. _______________________________________________________________________________
The Gilas Pilipinas national team once again did the country proud after taking home the bronze medal in the recently-concluded FIBA Asia Cup. They did it in the most exciting fashion, winning with no time remaining to defeat host country China.
And any Filipino basketball fanatic who watch the game would probably agree: Thank goodness, there’s Paul Lee.
One of the newest members of the national team, Lee was given three free throws at the end of the game. There was no more time left on the clock and China was ahead by two points. He needed to score all of the free throws for the Philippines to win.
It was the first time Paul ever joined an international basketball competition and there he was, the weight of a
basketball-crazy nation on his shoulders.
All eyes were on him. The arena was filled with jeers from the Chinese crowd hoping to distract him. Back home, everyone watching the game on television were at the edge of their seats.
Despite the commotion around him, Paul remained calm. The FIBA newbie knocked down all three free throws, each one hitting nothing but net.
Once again, there was an uproar. Paul, the player no one wanted to pick during his early days in basketball, has once again proven his worth.
Lethal Weapon
Paul John Dalistan Lee — dubbed “the Lethal Weapon” by fans — never thought he’d reach this far in his basketball career.
“Basta ang gusto ko lang noon maglaro ng basketball,” he told “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” in an interview.
Paul had a hard time finding a college basketball team despite his remarkable stint with San Sebastian Staglets — the college’s high school basketball team.
While all of his graduating teammates were already picked by top schools from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), he didn’t receive even a single call.
Eventually, one of his friends from San Sebastian helped him become part of University of the East. He got accepted, but only as a second-stringer. He waited for one year before he was chosen for the Red Warriors’ main lineup.
Paul also played in the Philippine Basketball League and the PBA D-League. It was in 2011 when he finally got his big break — he was chosen by Rain or Shine Elastopainters in that year’s PBA rookie draft.
Recently, he was called to join Gilas Pilipinas in the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup. With his stellar performance, he is believed to be a strong candidate for the team’s final line up for FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain in August.
What was going on his mind while he was on the free throw line during their last game against China? “‘Yung free throw na ‘yun, tinira ko na parang regular na free throw,” Lee said.
“Parang nagpa-practice lang ako, kasi the more na pine-pressure mo ‘yung sarili mo, mas mabigat ‘yung tira.”
Proud Tondo boy
Paul grew up in Tondo, Manila — thus, his other PBA moniker “Angas ng Tondo.” He was just five years old when his parents saw that their first born had an inclination for sports.
“Sabi ng parents ko, lagi akong may bolang hawak,” he shared.
Contrary to most people’s impression of him, Paul came from a family that struggled financially while he was growing up. There were times when he and his siblings had to skip school because they didn’t have enough money for transportation and food.
This, however, didn’t stop him from doing what he loves and what he does best. Paul used his struggles as an inspiration to strive harder in his chosen sport.
According to Dada Red, one of his friends from Tondo, Paul used to wake up at four thirty in the morning and head straight to the nearest basketball court to practice.
“Umaga pa lang, naglalaro na siya dito [sa court]. Seven a.m., umuuwi siya tapos papasok na sa school,” Dada shared.
On weekends, he’d stay at the basketball court practically the whole day and only went home when he needed to eat or take a bath.
Aside from basketball, Paul also played tennis and badminton in elementary school. He even won awards and certificates from such competitions which, until now, is carefully kept by his parents in
their humble home.
All about hard work
When he was a high school student, the Tondo boy spent his summer breaks in Bulacan where one of his uncles resides.
But instead of goofing around like other normal teenagers do during vacations, he chose to work as a pedicab driver and a tennis ball boy. There was also a time when he and his friends worked at ceramic tiles factory in Tondo.
Paul says he didn’t regret that he had to work at a young age because all he wanted was to lessen the burden of his beloved parents.
“Kasi ‘yun nga, kulang pera namin. Para pagdating ng pasukan, meron akong pera na panggastos,” he said.
More than the popularity it brought, Paul is grateful for basketball because it paved the way for his education and now, a steady income which he uses to provide for his family.
“Masarap sa pakiramdam. Parang lahat ngayon ibinuhos sa akin ang blessings,” he went on.
Paul also proved that hardships — whether big or small — can help shape one’s character in a good way. And sometimes, all it takes is the right attitude.
“Malaking bagay ‘yung mga nangyari sa akin noong bata ako,” he shared. “Tingin ko, ito ‘yung dahilan kung bakit tumibay ‘yung loob ko lalo.”
With his strong character and his recent performance in the hardcourt, Paul Lee is indeed the next basketball superstar we should all watch out for. — JST, GMA News
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'Pambansang Kamao' Manny Pacquiao responds to Drake's parody video
Super Sireyna: More heart than beauty
James Yap and his humble beginnings
Paul Lee, the player no one wanted to pick during his early days in basketball, has once again proven his worth in the recently-concluded FIBA Asia Cup.
And any Filipino basketball fanatic who watch the game would probably agree: Thank goodness, there’s Paul Lee.
One of the newest members of the national team, Lee was given three free throws at the end of the game. There was no more time left on the clock and China was ahead by two points. He needed to score all of the free throws for the Philippines to win.
It was the first time Paul ever joined an international basketball competition and there he was, the weight of a
basketball-crazy nation on his shoulders.
All eyes were on him. The arena was filled with jeers from the Chinese crowd hoping to distract him. Back home, everyone watching the game on television were at the edge of their seats.
Despite the commotion around him, Paul remained calm. The FIBA newbie knocked down all three free throws, each one hitting nothing but net.
Once again, there was an uproar. Paul, the player no one wanted to pick during his early days in basketball, has once again proven his worth.
Lethal Weapon
Paul John Dalistan Lee — dubbed “the Lethal Weapon” by fans — never thought he’d reach this far in his basketball career.
“Basta ang gusto ko lang noon maglaro ng basketball,” he told “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” in an interview.
Paul had a hard time finding a college basketball team despite his remarkable stint with San Sebastian Staglets — the college’s high school basketball team.
It was in 2011 when Paul Lee finally got his big break — he was chosen by Rain or Shine Elastopainters in that year’s PBA rookie draft. (Photo courtesy of Paul Lee)
Eventually, one of his friends from San Sebastian helped him become part of University of the East. He got accepted, but only as a second-stringer. He waited for one year before he was chosen for the Red Warriors’ main lineup.
Paul also played in the Philippine Basketball League and the PBA D-League. It was in 2011 when he finally got his big break — he was chosen by Rain or Shine Elastopainters in that year’s PBA rookie draft.
Recently, he was called to join Gilas Pilipinas in the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup. With his stellar performance, he is believed to be a strong candidate for the team’s final line up for FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain in August.
What was going on his mind while he was on the free throw line during their last game against China? “‘Yung free throw na ‘yun, tinira ko na parang regular na free throw,” Lee said.
“Parang nagpa-practice lang ako, kasi the more na pine-pressure mo ‘yung sarili mo, mas mabigat ‘yung tira.”
Proud Tondo boy
Paul grew up in Tondo, Manila — thus, his other PBA moniker “Angas ng Tondo.” He was just five years old when his parents saw that their first born had an inclination for sports.
The basketball court in Tondo where Paul Lee used to play during his younger days.
Contrary to most people’s impression of him, Paul came from a family that struggled financially while he was growing up. There were times when he and his siblings had to skip school because they didn’t have enough money for transportation and food.
This, however, didn’t stop him from doing what he loves and what he does best. Paul used his struggles as an inspiration to strive harder in his chosen sport.
According to Dada Red, one of his friends from Tondo, Paul used to wake up at four thirty in the morning and head straight to the nearest basketball court to practice.
“Umaga pa lang, naglalaro na siya dito [sa court]. Seven a.m., umuuwi siya tapos papasok na sa school,” Dada shared.
On weekends, he’d stay at the basketball court practically the whole day and only went home when he needed to eat or take a bath.
Aside from basketball, Paul also played tennis and badminton in elementary school. He even won awards and certificates from such competitions which, until now, is carefully kept by his parents in
their humble home.
Paul says he didn’t regret that he had to work at a young age because all he wanted was to lessen the burden of his beloved parents.
When he was a high school student, the Tondo boy spent his summer breaks in Bulacan where one of his uncles resides.
But instead of goofing around like other normal teenagers do during vacations, he chose to work as a pedicab driver and a tennis ball boy. There was also a time when he and his friends worked at ceramic tiles factory in Tondo.
Paul says he didn’t regret that he had to work at a young age because all he wanted was to lessen the burden of his beloved parents.
“Kasi ‘yun nga, kulang pera namin. Para pagdating ng pasukan, meron akong pera na panggastos,” he said.
More than the popularity it brought, Paul is grateful for basketball because it paved the way for his education and now, a steady income which he uses to provide for his family.
“Masarap sa pakiramdam. Parang lahat ngayon ibinuhos sa akin ang blessings,” he went on.
Paul also proved that hardships — whether big or small — can help shape one’s character in a good way. And sometimes, all it takes is the right attitude.
“Malaking bagay ‘yung mga nangyari sa akin noong bata ako,” he shared. “Tingin ko, ito ‘yung dahilan kung bakit tumibay ‘yung loob ko lalo.”
With his strong character and his recent performance in the hardcourt, Paul Lee is indeed the next basketball superstar we should all watch out for. — JST, GMA News
Other articles from "Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho":
'Pambansang Kamao' Manny Pacquiao responds to Drake's parody video
Super Sireyna: More heart than beauty
James Yap and his humble beginnings
