BATTLE-SCARRED TNT big man Kelly Williams emerged from the dugout wearing a plain black t-shirt and trouser pants that matched his Converse shoes on a rain-soaked weekend at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Old-school fashion choice, right? But the Tropang 5G pinning their hopes on the former pro league MVP yielded handsome dividends in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals against twice-to-beat Magnolia.
Williams, 43, turned back the hands of Time by sinking free throws that turned out to be the marginal point in TNT’s 89-88 decision over the Hotshots in their first meeting last week and two more freebies in a dramatic 80-79 escape in their do-or-die tiff last Saturday that kept alive the flagship squad of the MVP Group’s grand slam aspirations.
Even the 2008 MVP was lost for words after his heroics from the hardcourt’s loneliest place.
“I don’t think I’ve ever won a game with free throws. To kind of do it back-to-back, more or less, it’s kind of an anomaly for my career,” Williams said. “But I’m just grateful to have opportunities like this, to have coach Chot’s (Reyes) trust.
“To be in a position to be able to win a game with free throws and play in the late stretches. I’m just grateful to be here,” he added.
The 6-foot-7 Williams notched 10 points and 10 rebounds in the deciding duel but more than the scoring, it’s his prized ward’s commitment to work on his three-point and free throw shooting that elated Reyes no end.
“Actually, it started at the start of this season. We told Kelly he will now be a spread five,” Reyes said. “Magiging shooter na talaga namin siya. Kaya nakikita ninyo pag-kick out sa kanya itinitira talaga niya.
“Nagagalit ako sa kanya kapag hindi niya tinitira. I don’t care if he misses or makes it, you have to shoot that.”
Williams just blocked all the distractions in making the clutch foul shots.
“My confidence level is always high,” he said. “It’s just in that moment I’m just making sure that I stay focus on what’s at hand and not really feeling the situation or the crowd or whatever.”
The Tropang 5G will open their best-of-7 semifinals clash with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, with the cager christened “Machine Gun” raring to bring out his guns anew.
