New addition Paul Lee says toughness his most important contribution to Gilas Pilipinas

After being chosen for the final Gilas Pilipinas lineup for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Rain or Shine guard Paul Lee expressed excitement to represent the country on the world basketball stage.

 

Lee filled the spot of Talk and Text sharpshooter Larry Fonacier, who begged off from the Gilas pool last month due to several injuries.

 

A burly guard known for his strength going to the basket, Lee knows exactly what his calling card is for the national squad.

 

"I think my toughness will be my most important contribution to the team," he said in an interview with fiba.com.

 

"We have excellent guards in Jayson (Castro), LA (Tenorio) and Jimmy (Alapag). But in the World Cup, the other teams' guards will be much taller and 

heftier.

 

"And so, I think my role can be to defend against these big guards."

Lee already played the hero's role for the national team in the FIBA Asia Cup last month, sinking three free throws with no time remaining to lift the Philippines over China in the bronze medal match.

 

Aside from guards Lee, Castro, Tenorio, and Alapag, the 12-man roster is composed of naturalized player Andray Blatche, Jeff Chan, Gary David, Ranidel De Ocampo, Gabe Norwood, Junmar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, and Marc Pingris.

 

The World Cup will be tip off on August 30 in Spain. Gilas is bracketed with Argentina, Croatia, Greece, Senegal, and Puerto Rico in Group B of the competition. — JST, GMA News