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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider TNT veteran Kelly Williams grateful for coach Chot's trust

TNT veteran Kelly Williams grateful for coach Chot's trust

Published Oct 30, 2021 05:57 pm

Photo from PBA

Kelly Williams couldn’t be happier with how his decision to return from a brief retirement resulted in a PBA championship.

Convinced by returning coach Chot Reyes to come back after calling it quits before last year’s bubble, Williams played an important role in the Tropang Giga’s run that ended with a 4-1 series triumph over the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots in the Philippine Cup Finals.

“I’m just grateful to be here,” said Williams after TNT’s 94-79 win Friday, Oct. 29 at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.

“I’m so grateful to coach Chot, bringing a 39-year-old retiree back to the team and putting so much trust into me. That was huge for me.”

Williams has repeatedly cited Reyes as the reason why he’s been defying Father Time with his solid play for the Tropang Giga.

During the conference, Williams averaged 6.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 20 games, and was a key contributor during TNT’s conquest of Magnolia even after sustaining a back injury in the series opener.

And it came a year after Williams surprised TNT management and its fans by announcing his retirement.

The offer to once again don TNT’s No. 21 jersey was something Williams felt he needed to do, eventually signing a new two-year deal in March. Seven months later, Williams and the Tropang Giga are back on top after a six-year drought.

“It’s an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up, being with Chot,” said Williams, who then expressed how he’s glad to see happy faces immediately after the Tropang Giga’s success.

“It’s not about me, I’m just happy to be here, I’m happy for these guys to win,” he said. “I’ve watched them work since way — how hard they work, how much they sacrifice. I just really wanted them to win, more than anything.”

Williams won his seventh championship, five of which came in the All-Filipino tournament. His first was in 2008 with Sta. Lucia while the rest came during TNT’s streak of three straight from 2011 to 2013.

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