ANOTHER player in his 40s started in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals on Wednesday and made quite an impact.
Kelly Williams sparked TNT’s strong start before delivering a masterclass in the second quarter on offense and defense as the Tropang Giga opened a 56-33 halftime lead over Barangay Ginebra in Game Five at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
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Williams tore a page out of 40-year-old LA Tenorio's playbook in Game Three, where the team captain paced Ginebra to the victory as a surprise starter.
This time, the 42-year-old Williams scored the Tropang Giga’s first seven points before the rest of the team followed his lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Gin Kings, 30-13, to open a huge 23-point lead by halftime.
TNT shot 11-for-20 from the field in the second canto while limiting Ginebra to only 3-for-19 in the quarter and to 33 by the break - the lowest halftime score in the PBA Finals since TNT led Magnolia, 47-33, during Game Five of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup Finals held in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Williams ended up with 11 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the field, already his best scoring output in this finals after scoring seven in total in the first four games.
Calvin Oftana sustained his shooting consistency in the first half, leading TNT with 12 points and five rebounds, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 10 points and five rebounds.
Scottie Thompson had 13 points while Justin Brownlee had six points and seven rebounds for the Gin Kings in the first half.
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