CHICAGO - The already frigid relationship between Mikey Williams and TNT caught another cold whiff of air this past Saturday when team manager Jojo Lastimosa spoke about the issue on talk radio.
"Apparently, it's really so hard to get hold of Mikey. That is the big problem because he has no agent. Mike can't be reached and he doesn't reach out," Lastimosa told the Power and Play show with Kom Noli Eala.
Not long after Jolas' comments aired, which was followed by a news report, Mikey hopped on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
PBA's finest: Games to watch in the upcoming Commissioner's Cup
"More lies again and again. I get saving face but damn," the two-time PBA Finals MVP said.
I tried to reach out to Mikey myself this past Saturday but I was told the two-time PBA champion was chilling and spending the night watching MMA fights on pay-per-view.
But I did talk to his camp and they dispute Lastimosa's claims.
HOW THE BEEF BEGAN.
"He still has the same phone number," said the source, suggesting that Mikey's reluctance to pick up the phone arises from who is trying to contact Mikey. They'd rather have anyone on management on the other end of the line instead of Jolas.
Back in October 2022, Lastimosa suspended Mikey for one week without pay for being "AWOL in practice." And while Williams embraced accountability for his actions his camp believes the matter should have been handled quietly in-house.
That was the genesis of the rift, and the ensuing distrust, that has clouded the once sunny relationship. It's a fracture that not even renowned orthopedic doctor Raul Canlas can fix.
Mikey's camp also belied the claim that Mikey "has no agent" and told me that Nadine Jamal and Anthony Brodett are Mikey's designated representatives out there.
Nadine and Brody are adept negotiators and have ably represented this year's No. 2 pick of the PBA draft, Sedrick Barefield.
LET'S MAKE A DEAL.
Why TNT can't hammer out a deal in the space of 18 months is a mystery worthy of an Agatha Christie's novel.
Lastimosa's statement that "we're actually entertaining some proposal from other teams" is music to Mikey's camp's ears.
"Release his rights. He's in shape and he's ready to play," they said as talks about Mikey possibly landing at Converge or Barangay Ginebra continue to percolate.
TNT also needs to release all the animosity towards Mikey. Constantly villainizing him in the public sphere aggravates the situation in a way where dislike can escalate into hate.
But there is hope.
And one man can play emotional carpenter to mend these broken fences: TNT head coach Chot Reyes.
Outside of MVP himself, he is the only authority at TNT that Mikey's camp trusts and still holds dear.
Besides being a 10-time champ, Reyes is a motivational speaker who has mastered the delicate art of persuasion.
It's time to put those skills to task, coach Chot. Mikey Williams is ready to pick up the phone and listen.
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.
