Former PBA Commissioner’s Cup Best Import Johnathan Williams had a rousing return to the league on Friday, helping the Phoenix Fuel Masters beat the TNT Tropang 5G, 100-97, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“It’s a blessing. I had a long travel and arrived yesterday (Thursday) morning, so it’s great to be back. The fans are always awesome. It was a great atmosphere, so it’s lovely to be back,” said Williams postgame.
The lefty reinforcement registered 22 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal in nearly 45 minutes of action as he was thrown into the fire just one day after he arrived in the country.
Johnathan Williams Shakes Off Rust, Jet Lag
Afterward, Johnathan Williams acknowledged he’s still in a feeling-out process even as he shook off rust and jet lag at the same time in his first game back in the PBA after two years.
“I’m still trying to figure it out. I was kind of rusty out there today,” he admitted. “But Ricci [Rivero], Tyler [Tio], Perks [Jason Perkins], all the rest of the guys came up, they hit big shots and had big-time stops, especially in the fourth quarter and overtime. So, I just want to give a thanks to my teammates for helping me out. They did a great job. And the coaching staff, they’re phenomenal too.”
Rivero was the star of stars on Friday, pouring in a game-high 31 points—17 in the third quarter alone—and hitting big shots down the stretch. Tio, of course, hit the game-winning trey in OT on his way to a 14-point outing, while Perkins had 15 points and 7 boards.
Bringing Over a Winning Mindset
The Fuel Masters are looking to return to the postseason for the first time since the 2023–24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup—the same conference Johnathan Williams won the Best Import award. And it appears they got just the right import to bring them back to that standing and maybe help Charles Tiu in instilling a winning culture.
“My mindset is to win,” Williams stressed. “I thank them for giving me the opportunity to come back. I’m going to do my best.”
Rusty and jet-lagged, Johnathan Williams still put up a fine 22-point, 15-rebound debut. Safe to say Phoenix can expect more.
