MANILA, Philippines–The absence of Mikey Williams in the preparation for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) continues to puzzle TNT’s top official.
“Ayaw pa niyang umuwi e, so what can we do,” PBA chairman and TNT’s board representative Ricky Vargas said in Tuesday’s press conference at Diamond Hotel.
Williams remains in the United States with the season about three weeks away from the Commissioner’s Cup tip-off while the Tropang Giga are busy building up for the campaign.
TNT is already coming off the first game of the East Asia Super League, dropping a 93-75 decision to Japan’s Chiba Jets despite keeping things close in the first half.
The 2022 Rookie of the Year is coming off a season where his starring role in Game 6 sealed TNT’s Governors’ Cup title, the last time Williams was with the team.
He was also not around during TNT’s PBA On Tour exhibition stint.
“The team has been practicing and he’s still not around,” said Vargas.
“That’s the difficulty,” he added.