THE SAGA CONTINUES
Mikey Williams declined to comment on the saga surrounding his ongoing impasse with TNT management as he watched the Tropang Giga deliver perhaps their finest performance yet in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a victory over Barangay Ginebra.
While the likelihood of donning the TNT jersey once more is impossible at this point, given that both parties are not seeing eye-to-eye, Williams is also not closing any door on a potential PBA return.
“I want to be out there with them,” Williams said during the Tropang Giga’s 91-86 mastery before a good-sized crowd Friday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City. “There’s still things that need to be addressed, but I definitely miss them.”
The feeling is mutual as far as the players are concerned, with import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Player of the Game Calvin Oftana, Poy Erram and Brian Heruela finding time to greet Williams, who sat on the first row with his agent.
While Oftana, who finished with 32 points, said that everything’s cool between players and Williams, that can’t be said as far as Reyes and TNT brass are concerned.
“We haven’t spoken in a while,” Reyes said. “There was a time we’ve been in touch with his agent, or agents. But since then, we’ve had radio silence for perhaps one year or at least six months. So, he knows my number, he knows how to get in touch with me. I always say that I’m a message away.”
Converge connection
Williams is back in the country to play for Strong Group Athletics in the upcoming Dubai Invitational that is reinforced by ex-NBA mainstay DeMarcus Cousins and former Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche.
His participation has raised some speculations if the SGA stint will be a stepping stone for a potential move to Converge. SGA coach Charles Tiu also serves as an assistant for the FiberXers, albeit in an active capacity.
Tiu had said that he “would love to have” Williams at Converge, but that possibility will depend if there’s interest by the FiberXers to acquire his playing rights, which could come at a price of dealing some key pieces to the Tropang Giga.
“Only time will tell if [playing for TNT again] is possible,” Williams said.
What Williams saw was a great showing by TNT in continuing its mastery of Ginebra in the first meeting of both teams since the Governors’ Cup Finals won by the Tropang Giga.
Sixth straight
TNT climbed up to 6-2, retaining its hold on top spot in the standings with a sixth straight win. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson bounced back from a frustrating showing despite defeating NLEX by scoring 25 points, making all 13 free throws after missing half of 12 attempts the last time, on top of 13 rebounds, six assists and two steals while Erram had the last laugh once more against a Ginebra crowd that enjoy jeering him by adding 10 poitns and six rebounds.
Ginebra fell to 6-4 for seventh place as it only shot 36 percent, thanks mainly to TNT’s defense.
“Definitely our best defensive game,” said Reyes. “I thought there was some executional lapses, offensively, towards the end. Fortunately, we made enough stops to give us enough possessions.”
Meanwhile, Converge shoots for an 8-3 record against Blackwater while NLEX and Phoenix fight to improve their respective 3-6 records Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
