TNT Tropang 5G’s Kelly Williams should’ve been retired long ago. In fact, he announced his retirement in 2020 after 13 impactful seasons. Only, he didn’t retire for long, as he came back on the prodding of Chot Reyes, who convinced Machine Gun Kelly to unretire in 2021 and join him in his own PBA comeback.
The rest, as the saying goes, is history.
Kelly Williams and Chot Reyes have won four more titles together and are in search of a fifth as they, and the rest of Tropang 5G, face the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. And ahead of the two teams’ championship rematch, the 43-year-old veteran got the chance to reflect on his role in TNT’s reemergence this decade when he was asked about “bridging generations of talent” within the franchise.
Kelly Williams, the Leader and Culture Keeper
Currently the second-longest tenured Tropa behind the injured Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams acknowledged that one of the reasons Reyes brought him back was to do exactly that: bridge generations.
“One of the reasons Chot brought me back is to be able to help guide the younger guys. It just so happened that I’ve kept myself in some sort of shape that he can actually use me as a player as well,” Williams said. “It’s really good to see the development. That’s one of the roles that I’ve embraced in the last few years that I’ve been playing.”
Still Machine Gun Kelly on the Floor
Of course, the ever-humble Williams seemed to be selling himself short. He isn’t just “in some sort of shape”; he is in phenomenal shape. And that’s why Reyes continues to trust the one-time MVP to be on the floor—his advancing age be damned. Williams, like the great player he is, remains productive as well, putting up 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds a game on a career-best 38.5% from downtown.
Even so, Williams insists that his main role is to be TNT’s guiding light, its culture keeper.
“Again, my role here, primarily, is to continue to perpetuate the environment and the kind of atmosphere that Chot has cultivated over the years that have brought championships to the organization,” Williams reiterated. “I’m just grateful to have the opportunity at this stage not only of my career, but of my life to witness it and be a part of it.”
He is a part of it, all right. A very big part.
