In Game 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals between the Converge FiberXers and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Mikey Williams knocked the proverbial monkey off his back.
In Game 4, he helped Converge make history.
Williams, a two-time PBA Finals MVP, shot the FiberXers into their maiden semis stint on Friday, drilling back-to-back treys that sealed Game 4—along with the franchise’s first-ever semifinal appearance in its four-year PBA stint so far.
Mikey Williams Stays in the Moment
For Williams, who has been struggling ever since he came back to the PBA, it was all about staying ready.
“I just stayed ready,” he told reporters after Game 4. “The coaches have been on me to shoot a little bit more. I just tried to stay in the moment and just keep shooting. I know, eventually, some of them are going to fall.”
On Friday, he got some of those shots to fall in his first 27 minutes of action, scoring 11 points on 2-for-8 shooting from downtown and adding a pair of two-pointers. It turns out that was a prelude to what was to come.
With Converge up by only two, 109-107, Williams drilled a booming trey from the right wing off a Cameron Clark kick-out to make it 112-107 with 3:04 left. After a forced turnover, the former TNT Tropang 5G sniper made another triple, this time just beyond the right wing, to stake Converge to a 115-107 lead with under three minutes remaining.
The FiberXers held on, and now they’re in the semifinals.
No Regrets Trading for Mikey Williams
It took practically all of Season 50, but Mikey Williams finally gave the FiberXers what they had been expecting when they traded for the mercurial guard sometime during the Philippine Cup that ended Season 49.
The 35-year-old guard didn’t return right away and also missed the ensuing Philippine Cup to start the current season. He then struggled in the Commissioner’s Cup when he finally came back and continued to struggle for most of the Governors’ Cup—until he helped Converge win Games 2 and 4 with backbreaking triples.
Those timely hits were vindication of sorts for the FiberXers, who have kept the faith in Mikey Williams all this time.
“Wala tayong pinagsisihan doon sa nangyari yung trade na ‘yun. We have Mikey here. I know that Mikey can help the team,” Converge coach Delta Pineda insisted. “Mikey can contribute to the team. Yung experience ni Mikey malaking factor po… Wala po tayong pinagsisihan doon. It’s a good decision, team decision, owner’s decision. It’s a good decision. And now, it shows na ‘yung experience ni Mikey on this crucial moment na i-deliver po sa team.”
Mikey Williams certainly delivered. And now, he’s got another entire series—and an even bigger stage—to prove even more that Converge did right in trading for him.
