NOW that Mikey Williams is part of the Strong Group Athletics-Philippines (SGA-PHL) for the coming Dubai International Basketball Championships, will it eventually lead to a stint with allied team Converge FiberXers in the PBA?
We asked SGA-PHL head coach and Converge deputy Charles Tiu about this and he himself is ‘hopeful.'
“That’s a good idea but it’s beyond my control. I leave it up to the bosses, boss Dennis (Uy), boss Delta (Pineda), gov Archen (Caybayab) and bosses Frank and Jacob Lao. They have been miracle workers for Converge naman the past two years,” said Tiu.
READ Mikey Williams back to play for SGA in Dubai Invitational
However, since Williams’ rights in the PBA are still with the TNT, Tiu bared that he is leaving it up to management to handle the matter.
“Who wouldn’t want to have a Mikey on his team?” said Tiu, one of the architects of Converge’s rise in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup where it is in the top half of the team standings after a four-game winning streak.
“I’d love to have him on any team that I am a part of, that’s why I pushed hard to get him. Pero for now, I’d like to reserve (my) comment there, baka ma-tampering pa ako o ma-fine ako. I’m sure any coach would love to have him. Sila na muna bahala mag-usap,” he said.
COLUMN: TNT now open to trading Mikey
Converge once attempted to acquire the signing rights to Williams via a trade with TNT prior to the last PBA draft in exchange for the first pick in the third round, which was what TNT management initially asked for.
But the negotiations suddenly bogged down at the last minute.
TNT, through head coach Chot Reyes, later said it is open to listening to offers for Williams, but nothing much has been heard about the controversial guard until he arrived on Tuesday in an early-morning flight from Los Angeles.
“Ayaw ko muna mag wishful thinking (sa Converge side ko), focus muna ako sa Dubai. We have never discussed that yet, kami we’re just focusing on this tournament, we want to win it for the Philippines, we want to win for boss Frank and Jacob Lao.
"I am sure happy na si boss Frank that Mikey is with us, this is our birthday gift to him,” said Tiu who offered the consummated deal to SGA patriarch Frank Lao who was celebrating his birthday on the day Williams arrived in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Tiu bared how he and SGA management were able to bag the ever-elusive two-time PBA champion and two-time Finals MVP.
“We just simplified the negotiations, we talked directly to Mikey and we immediately sent him a digital copy of his contract right after we agreed on the terms,” said Tiu, the chief negotiator of the deal.
“And we are so happy that when he signed the contract, he arrived at 5 this morning then went straight to our practice at 10 a.m.,” he added.
“Nagawan namin ng paraan to bring him here, may mga family matters lang that he had to settle before coming. Pero usapan namin, pagdating nya dito practice siya kaagad and he kept his word,” he said.
Tiu revealed that though Williams failed to honor their 2024 agreement where he was supposed to be part of the SGA-PHL team that fell short of the Dubai title, losing to Al Riyadi of Lebanon in the final, there was no ill will between the two parties.
“Obviously what happened last year was a bit unfortunate, naiintidihan ko naman na may mga factors beyond his control siguro. Pero heto, he wanted to come back and play for us, gusto nyang bumawi. Sabi ko, 'O sige, I am willing to do that’,” said Tiu.
Tiu expects only the best from Mikey
“Ako I am feeling confident, I really hope so because for Mikey, business is business for him. When he is here to play, he is gonna be the most professional player and I fully expect him to play in every game and have a big role,” responded Tiu.
The reigning Jones Cup champion coach also bared that Williams’ arrival comes as a big boost to the roster of SGA-PHL, which is looking to improve on runner-up campaign in the last edition of the Dubai Invitational.
“I think Williams will be one of our top players in the team. I think him and Jason Brickman are my two main guards, that’s no secret, I am a big fan of both those guys, ngayon we have a lot of playmakers in our team. Malaking bagay to have them both. Sana makumpleto na kami sa practice,” said Tiu who bared that SGA-PHL will only have a complete roster in practice this weekend.
Other players in SGA-PHL Dubai-bound team are Rhenz Abando, Dave Ildefonso and Gilas Pilipinas naturalized players Ange Kuoame and Andray Blatche.
With Williams now at SGA, Converge fan and Purple Hub social media co-founder Dr. Raffy Tuazon is optimistic that the high-scoring guard will don the FiberXers jersey soon.
“Knowing the strategic movement and recruitment program of Converge, I won’t be surprised if Mikey will eventually play for Converge in the PBA,” said Tuazon, an anesthesiologist at a high-end hospital in Makati.
“Nangyari na yan before with Jordan Heading so I am sure, and hopefully, it will happen with Mikey. Having Mikey at Converge will officially kickstart the dynasty of the team,” he said.
But for Tiu, he can only hope that Williams’ leadership and performance for SGA-PHL will convince PBA teams that he is indeed back in business.
“Siguro, it will ease all hesitations about him. May iba kasing teams gusto siya pero takot na baka hindi sumipot, pero we were able to pull it through. Siguro that is something his camp has discussed with him, we’ll take it from there, we’ll see what doors will open after this tournament,” said Tiu.
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.
