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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Kelly Williams credits teammates' defense for slowing down June Mar Fajardo

Kelly Williams credits teammates' defense for slowing down June Mar Fajardo

Published Aug 31, 2022 08:52 pm

Whoever guards June Mar Fajardo under the paint must brace for intense physicality and TNT center Kelly Williams knows that feeling well after five straight games of locking horns in the PBA Philippine Finals series.

June Mar Fajardo fires a one-hander against Kelly Williams as other players look on during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night, Aug. 31. (MB Photo / Noel Pabalate)

In Game 5 though, Williams had the last laugh after the Tropang Giga got away with a 102-93 win against the San Miguel Beermen at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night, Aug. 31.

But the veteran TNT big man couldn't have done it without the likes of reinforcement in the shaded area in Poy Erram, Troy Rosario, and Dave Marcelo, among others.

Guarding Fajardo isn't a one-man job and Williams deflected the credit to the overall defense of the Tropang Giga as they led the series 3-2.

"Regarding June Mar, I think, first you gotta have a lot of prayer on your side. He's a big boy, he's big and heavy and no way that was all on me," said the 40-year-old Williams, who showed his vintage form and spearheaded TNT with 21 points on an 8-of-14 shooting including four three-pointers, nine rebounds, and three assists.

"Our bigs, our defense as a team carried a lot of that load so I trust those guys behind me and I just tryna go in and do my part.

"Like I said with June Mar, you don't stop him. He's the GOAT (greatest of all time). So just tryna slow him down, give him some resistance and again, pray for the best," added the seven-time PBA champion.

Williams is just one of the many TNT players who stepped up when star guard Jayson Castro went down in the third quarter after accidentally stepping and landing on the foot of Marcio Lassiter.

Mikey Williams also listed 23 points, five assists and four rebounds while Erram had 17 points and seven rebounds.

Though his effort went into naught, Fajardo still emerged as the top scorer for the Beermen and hauled 20 points and 16 rebounds.

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