Former PBA Finals MVP Mikey Williams is back, and it looks like he will finally be playing for the Converge FiberXers. This comes after the team officially welcomed the Season 46 PBA Rookie of the Year on its official social media pages.
Converge acquired Williams’ rights from the TNT Tropang 5G in exchange for then-rookie Jordan Heading ahead of the PBA Philippine Cup in Season 49. However, the FiberXers and Williams couldn’t agree on a deal, delaying the latter’s debut by two conferences and leaving fans wondering if the Fil-Am hooper would ever return after leaving the league in 2023 after contract talks with TNT went nowhere.
How Does Mikey Williams Fit in the Converge Championship Puzzle?
Talented players like Mikey Williams are, for the most part, plug-and-play types, meaning you can put them on any team and they’d excel no matter what. Then again, the two-time PBA champion plays the same position as Converge’s current crown jewel, Juan Gomez de Liaño, who proved in his maiden conference that he can be a go-to guy with his scoring and playmaking.
On paper, the de Liaño–Williams backcourt is arguably the most potent, most explosive pairing one could form in today’s PBA—a pair of talented scorers who can do damage practically anywhere on the court. Both are also alphas in their own way, and each is at his absolute best when he has the ball and is making decisions. These two lethal playmakers will need to feed off each other and defer when necessary, and that could take time.
What could truly complicate matters is that the FiberXers have a third guard who is similar in a way in Alec Stockton, who had been making major strides before being relegated to a supporting role by JGDL’s emergence. Stockton, like Mikey Williams and Juan Gomez de Liaño, does his best work when he has the ball, and he is especially dangerous when he gets in a zone.
In addition, Williams and JGDL will need to share the limelight—and the scoring—with Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar as well. Both have willingly deferred to Converge’s talented guards, but they will need to be involved in the offense, too, as will new acquisitions Calvin Abueva and Jonnel Policarpio. That responsibility mainly falls on Williams and Gomez de Liaño, and they will have to figure out ways to share the ball to keep this constellation of stars happy—all while not turning passive or too deferential.
Is Mikey Williams Even in Basketball Shape?
During his contract impasse with TNT, Mikey Williams used to post social media training sessions or clips showing him working out. So, it stands to reason that the now 34-year-old Williams will be fit to a certain level. However, being fit and being in game shape are two completely different matters.
Needless to say, the kind of basketball shape Mikey Williams is in—and how well he adjusts to whatever role he’ll be given—could determine how well he plays and how much he contributes to Converge this conference.
One thing is for certain, though: Having a Finals MVP and two-time champion should make the Converge FiberXers even more dangerous than they already were.
