KELLY Williams (left) INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — After spending the last seven months just watching the game he loves through a computer screen, Kelly Williams is back in the PBA.
And Talk N’ Text forward couldn’t be more relieved to return to the court this November for the 2013 PBA Philippine Cup, and keep his sanity too.
“I was losing my mind, I was watching my team on livestream and it was hard to think that I possibly wouldn’t play again,” Willams told INQUIRER.net on Saturday.
“I think I would literally lost my mind, go crazy, if I didn’t get cleared to play, so thank God.”
After a health related sabbatical, Williams returned to Manila Friday night and plunged back into action the morning after as Talk N’ Text battled Air21 in a tune-up match.
“I feel good. It will take sometime to get my legs back, but I’m just excited to be here with my team,” Williams, who also joined the team in Las Vegas, said.
Williams, who is suffering a condition called immune thrombocytopeni purpura, is transitioning into a new course of treatment for his blood disorder.
And this makes all the difference for Williams, who had to turn his back from basketbal because his body just wouldn’t cooperate.
“The new medication doesn’t have the side effects that I had to deal with before. It was too much to bear at that time,” Williams said. “The rest also helped.”
And his veteran presence is nothing but welcome for the Texters, who try to push for an All-Filipino “four-peat” against teams who have beefed up significantly in the off-season.
“We have good chances. We know we have a lot to work on, especially on defense. I think that’s why coach Norman [Black] decided to have me back because that’s my game,” Williams said.
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