In his 18th PBA season, Kelly Williams provided steady leadership for the TNT Tropang 5G in their 96-91 victory over San Miguel in Game 1 of the Philippine Cup finals on January 21 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Amid the tension of the finals, 43-year-old Kelly Williams played with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists, including two assists in the final two minutes to thwart San Miguel's comeback. “That’s why coach has me out there. My role is to try to keep everybody steady. I think I have, probably, the most experience in these finals situations,” said Williams, who has 10 championships to his credit. He assisted Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser on back-to-back buckets to extend the lead to 92-87, and Jordan Heading sank 4-of-4 free throws to seal the victory.
Williams said he tries to emulate his former teammate Ranidel de Ocampo, known for his composure. “I was reminded during Ranidel’s jersey retirement how big it is to have someone who is just calm in storms,” he added. He called for energy and defense from the team throughout the series.
His teammates followed suit: Heading with 13 points and 8 rebounds, Calvin Oftana with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Rey Nambatac with 11 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds—his finals return after an injury last season, when TNT lost to San Miguel in six games. San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo led with 24 points and 17 rebounds.
Though the win was sweet, TNT is focused on Game 2 on January 23. “As far as we’re concerned, we’re preparing for Friday. This game is done,” Williams said.
