CHICAGO - After netting the services of former Lakers center and 2022 NBA champion Dwight Howard, Strong Group Athletics (SGA) caught another big fish.
Mikey Willliams has committed to play for SGA in the upcoming Dubai Invitational Championship, multiple sources told SPIN.ph.
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A close relative of Williams also confirmed to me the development and inferred Mikey was supposed to travel from Los Angeles to Manila on Monday.
Unfortunately with Mikey, as TNT had learned the hard way, accepting that he will play needs real proof of life.
Which is the reason why the coaching staff headed by Charles Tiu, whom Mikey likes and has had a great relationship with through the years, are cautiously optimistic.
They cannot exhale until Williams is actually on Philippine soil.
Williams inked a three-year deal with TNT in 2021, but in the following year he quickly exercised a renegotiation clause. The rest is history.
The anxiety of how TNT will react seeing him spreading the gospel of basketball while wearing another uniform is apparently the reason for Williams' hesitance to make the Dubai commitment official after mulling on it for days.
Those worries are unfounded.
Asked about the possibility of seeing their disgruntled star play for another outfit, a Tropang Giga official offered this response.
"We have no control if he plays in a non-FIBA sanctioned event. But in the PBA, we hold his rights. That's common knowledge."
If Mikey doesn't have cold feet sometime today, Strong Group firmly establishes its footing as a powerhouse in the local basketball scene.
Which also means billionaire Frank Lao pulled off the improbable by threading the needle and dragging Williams out of hibernation.
Long Mikey layoff
Dormant from actual competition for nearly a year, Williams now potentially gets a chance to showcase the scoring prowess that TNT has missed from the two-time champion and former Finals MVP in this ongoing Commissioner's Cup where the Tropang Giga are 4-6.
Playing in Dubai gives Mikey the rare privilege of running alongside an All-Star crew that includes former OKC Thunder Andre Roberson, former Gilas anchor Andray Blatche, former PBA import McKenzie Moore plus a slew of collegiate stars bannered by Kevin Quiambao of La Salle.
Frank Lao's SGA is an embarrassment of riches that is among the favorites to emerge victorious in a tough field that includes teams from Lebanon, Monaco, Egypt and Iran.
And here's the kicker, Jordan Heading is also expected to be on the roster.
No kidding, this SGA team can beat any team in Asia right now.
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