TNT will start its defense of the PBA Philippine Cup without Mikey Williams due to the ongoing contract negotiations between him and management.

Coach Chot Reyes bared in a television interview that Williams has invoked a clause that allows the Rookie of the Year frontrunner and Most Valuable Player contender to re-negotiate terms of his current two-year pact.
“The issue is that he has a two-year contract, but he has an option to re-negotiate if we win a championship,” Reyes told former PBA commissioner Noli Eala in the latter’s program Power and Play which aired Saturday, June 4.
Williams was a big reason why the Tropang Giga was able to beat the Magnolia Hotshots for the PBA Philippine Cup crown in Bacolor, Pampanga where he was also named as Finals Most Valuable Player.
The Tropang Giga start their season-opening Philippine Cup campaign against the Hotshots shorthanded with Williams still in the United States.
With Williams and management still in the process of trying to reach common ground, TNT may have to trek some rough waters as it aims to keep possession of the Jun Bernardino Perpetual Trophy.
But Reyes is hoping that Williams and the Tropang Giga can eventually reach an agreement.
“He himself has expressed to me personally his desire to continue playing for TNT,” said Reyes. “Medyo humaba lang, and these things can drag a bit.
“But if both parties are really interested in getting things done, then I’m looking forward to wrapping it up sooner rather than later.”