Friday proved to be a throwback of sorts after Kelly Williams turned back the hands of time to help TNT continue its winning ways in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The 43-year-old center sank a total of eight three-pointers and finished with 28 points alongside 11 rebounds and three assists, as he starred in the Tropang Giga’s come-from-behind overtime victory over Terrafirma in Montalban.
“That’s why he’s on the team,” lauded Coach Chot Reyes after their 109-95 win at the Ynares Center II. “Tonight he helped us with his three-point shooting.”
According to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, Williams produced the most points he had since dropping 32 in their 109-110 defeat to Rain or Shine in Game 4 of the Season 49 Philippine Cup quarterfinals back on May 15, 2024.
It’s also his second-highest output in the last 14 seasons, and that’s big thanks to his exceptional shooting from deep, which is now his career-high in triples–and made him the oldest player to make at least eight in a game.
Such a performance, without a doubt, was yet another proof of how serviceable the 43-year-old remains for TNT even at this point in his career.
(C) PBA Images
“It’s such a luxury for me as a coach to have a player like Kelly who can do it, and more importantly, he has the humility to accept and play a role this late in his career,” said Reyes of the 2008 league MVP with Santa Lucia.
“If I need him for five minutes, I’ll get a good five minutes. If I need him for 30 or 35 minutes, so be it,” added the champion bench tactician.
As historic as his outing was, Williams was just relieved to have delivered, as he himself felt disappointed with the way he was playing prior to Friday.
In their first five games of the conference, the 10-time champion averaged just 6.6 points on a combined 9-of-23 shooting from three and 2.0 rebounds.
“I gotta give glory to God. If you guys have been watching, I’ve been playing pretty horrible this conference. To have this turnaround, that’s gotta be all Him,” said Williams, who also had a steal and a block for a full line versus the Dyip.
But he’s now gotten his groove back, and the vintage performance was also his way of repaying the vote of confidence Reyes and the rest of the Tropang 5G have in him, especially in taking the outside shot with no apprehension.
“I’ve been saying it since I’ve been back: Coach is giving me opportunities to do what I do, and he’s been trusting me. And, my teammates have trusted me to take the shots, they’re encouraging me to take these shots,” Williams said.
“And I wanna do right by the opportunity that I have and make ’em–take ’em, and make ’em. Coach has been telling me to shoot it. That’s what I did tonight.”
