Justin Williams tries to block Steven Thomas’ basket in the game of the ABL finals. Photo from Asean Basketball League website
MANILA, Philippines — There was a stark contrast between Justin Williams’ fate with Globalport in the PBA and with San Miguel in the ABL.
In the end, the Batang Pier’s loss proved to be the gain of the Beermen and Williams.
But six-foot-10 center admits that there was no feeling of vindication that came with winning the title with Beermen, even if he was abruptly dumped by the Batang Pier.
“I never felt vindicated,” said Williams in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum at the Shakey’s Malate where selected cast of San Miguel were invited.
In fact, Williams called his brief stint with the new PBA franchise a “blessing.”
“It was a blessing for Globalport to bring me here in the first place. They took care of me while I was out there and treated me the best as possible,” said Williams.
But the staff of Globalport thought the defensive-minded Williams wasn’t the key to their playoff run the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“Unfortunately we lost games, but I’ve never hard hard feeling for those guys,” Williams cleared.
In San Miguel, though, Williams’ tenacity on defense and his presence downlow was invaluable in their record-setting 16-game win streak and the championship run versus Indonesia.
The six-foot-10 center had a total of 53 blocked shots the entire regular season, according to the ABL website, and swatted away 17 attempts in the finals series alone.
The Beermen swept the Warriors, their tormentors in the previous season, in a best-of-five tussle for the franchise’s first ever title.
“I’m blessed that San Miguel gave me the opportunity,” said Williams.