Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Kelly Williams seemed to have settled into retirement after he decided to leave TNT prior to the start of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup.
But his retirement proved to be short-lived as Williams re-signed with the Tropang Giga for a two-year deal after getting a little bit of convincing from a familiar name.
TNT, which was coming off a finals appearance in the All-Filipino Conference, welcomed former head coach Chot Reyes for another go-around and it was that change that lured Williams back in.
Williams, in an interview with former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala’s Power&Play radio show, said a text message from Chot Reyes eventually led to his return.
“When I checked my messages, there was one from Chot and it said ‘are you ready to come back?'” said Williams. “Literally from that minute on, I started to weigh everything up. Let’s see how we might be able to do it.”
“One hundred percent with Chot coming back, that’s what pushed me to the edge.”
Williams was already 38-years-old when he announced his sudden retirement in September of 2020 and that left the Tropang Giga without the former MVP during the Philippine Cup in Clark, Pampanga.
Now 39, Williams is raring for another title run with Reyes, the one who also recruited him to be part of the Philippine national team in 2004.
Their relationship then moved to the PBA when Williams was traded to TNT from Sta. Lucia to reunite with Reyes.
Under Reyes, Williams won three of his six career titles.
“With Chot back, to me, it was a no-brainer,” said Williams.