BY ABBY TORALBA
PROLIFIC gunner Mikey Williams will not suit up for Strong Group in the 33rd Dubai International Tournament after all.
“I don’t think he will be part of the team anymore. Unfortunately, I think he still has some talks with TNT. We’ve been waiting for his answer. He said he’s trying to get clearance,” Strong Group coach Charles Tiu said yesterday during his team’s open practice at the Urdaneta Village Covered Courts in Makati.
“So, I think it’s best that we decide to play it safe and make sure he doesn’t get in any trouble. After all, his PBA career is more important. So, we just decided to move on.
“It’s a shame because he’s actually one of the first guys I reached out to, my number one choice to be the point guard of this team but it is what it is. We’ll find ways to win without him, but he would’ve been a great addition to our team,” he added.
Williams, a former Rookie of the Year and two-time finals MVP, is still in the United States after his contract with TNT in the PBA was terminated due to an impasse.
Bannered by former NBA star Dwight Howard and reigning UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao, Strong Group, which will be the country’s representative in the tilt set for Jan. 19 to 28, is working doubly hard.
Aside from Howard and Quiambao, naturalized Filipino and former Gilas Pilipinas cager Andray Blatche, Andre Roberson, Mckenzie Moore, Justine Baltazar, Francis Escandor, Justine Sanchez, Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot, JD Cagulangan, and Jordan Heading make up the team.
“I like the team so far. What we’ve been seeing, we have a great group of guys. Nobody complains. Even Dwight listens to everything we’ve asked. I feel we have a better team right now. We have a better group of imports right now,” Tiu said. “More solid team. We just have to get a bit in shape. We have one player still missing, Jordan Heading will be coming over today.
“So, finally we’ll be complete but we’re just taking it slow, one day at a time, trying to make sure no one gets hurt but I think we have a great group of guys.”
