EVEN at this stage of his PBA career, Kelly Williams still tries to find a source of inspiration that could help his team in the 50th Season Philippine Cup finals.
He found one in former teammate Ranidel de Ocampo, whose recent jersey retirement became a reminder of how important a veteran presence is to TNT.
READ: TNT turns back last-gasp San Miguel comeback in Game One
Indeed, Williams was steady as they come in Game 1 against San Miguel when he notched 15 points and nine rebounds in the Tropang 5G's 96-91 win to start the finals on a high note.
“My role is to try to keep everybody steady,” said Williams. “I think I probably have the most experience in finals situations.
“I was reminded during Ranidel’s jersey retirement how big is to have someone who is just calm in the storms,” added the now-43-year-old, who was RDO's teammate from 2010 to 2017.
“I want to come into this - not just in this game, but in this whole series - with that energy and trust that our shooters are going to shoot, our guys are going to do what we need, and make sure we handle our premium, which is to play defense and play with a lot of energy.”
Kelly goes off out of the gates
Williams got things going for TNT early when he registered seven points in the first quarter that led to a 29-20 lead, while also being vital in defending nine-time MVP June Mar Fajardo throughout the game.
Williams also made a key play in the fourth quarter, dishing out an assist to a wide-open Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser for the dunk with two minutes left to give the Tropang 5G a 90-83 lead, a gap that they eventually held on to.
“We’re looking for players to contribute with their defense and then contribute in other ways, contribute in setting screens and making the right pass, not necessarily the assist, but just making the right pass," said head coach Chot Reyes.
"So in the end, the veteran that Kelly is, he was able to make those decisions. And the key is really not turning the ball over. So when he had the ball in those crucial moments, he was making the right play, whether finish on the rim or make a pass to his teammate.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
