The TNT Tropang 5G escaped the Terrafirma Dyip on Friday, 109-95, in overtime in a game the Tropa trailed most of the way. In fact, Terrafirma built as much as a 16-point lead at one point and was still ahead, 74-69, going into the fourth. But TNT fought back behind Kelly Williams and Jio Jalalon, eventually retaking the lead at the eight-minute mark and sending the game to OT, where the Tropa completely took over for the win.
Jalalon fueled that comeback with his hustle and energy, while Williams provided the big buckets, including three triples in the final five minutes of regulation and three more in overtime—the first of which gave TNT the lead for good.
Kelly Williams Shoots Down Terrafirma
In all, Kelly Williams was a Steph Curry-esque 8-for-13 from downtown, including six for his last six. It was a spectacular stretch of outside sniping for Machine Gun Kelly, who once was known for his breathtaking athleticism and rim-rattling dunks. And for the veteran, he was just doing what the Tropa have been telling him to do: let it fly.
“I’ve been saying it since I’ve been back: Coach [Chot Reyes] has given me opportunities to do what I do, and he’s been trusting me, and my teammates have trusted me to take the shots,” Williams said in the postgame presser following TNT’s escape act. “They’re encouraging me to take shots, and I wanna do right by the opportunities that I have—take them and make them. Coach has been telling me to shoot it, so that’s what I did tonight.”
Reyes Raves About His Veteran Big Man
Reyes, for his part, isn’t the least bit surprised about Kelly Williams shooting down Terrafirma. According to the reigning PBA Coach of the Year, the veteran was just doing what he’s supposed to do for TNT.
“That’s why he’s on the team. Tonight, he helped us with his three-point shooting. Other nights he helps us with his defense, his playmaking abilities,” Reyes shared. “It’s such a luxury for me as a coach to have a player like Kelly, who can do it. More importantly, he has the humility to accept and play a role this late in his career. If I need him for five minutes, I’ll get a good five minutes. But if I need him for 30 minutes, 35 minutes, so be it.”
Against Terrafirma, Reyes had to play Kelly Williams nearly 39 minutes—and the veteran was up for it, up until that last dagger three he hit at the 1:28 mark of OT to finally put the game to rest.
So yes, having a player like Kelly Williams really is a luxury for any coach.
