Machine Gun Kelly knows Gilas is shorthanded with the bigs.
"If he needs me, I'm always there."
Kelly Williams, at 41, is ready to suit up for the national team even on short notice, with the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers happening next week.
"It's an honor to be called up for any player," he said after the TNT Tropang Giga's victory against the Blackwater Bossing on Wednesday.
He knows the predicament Coach Chot Reyes is in with a sudden shortage of bigs: 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar needs to recover from an MCL sprain, 7-foot-2 Kai Sotto has "categorically" opted out of the final window, 6-foot-7 Carl Tamayo has not appeared for practice, while naturalized player 6-foot-11 Ange Kouame will be undergoing surgery.
That leaves Gilas Pilipinas with 6-foot-10 June Mar Fajardo, 6-foot-7 Raymond Almazan, and an 18-year-old 6-foot-7 Mason Amos as rim protectors.
They will be going up against Lebanon's top performer and top rebounder, the 6-foot-11 center Ator Majok, who is averaging 10 points and 8.3 rebounds in the Asian Qualifiers. The Cedars' 6-foot-9 Ali Haidar is also a shooter with 11.9 points to go along with 6.2 rebounds.
Jordan is also bringing in a lot of height with 6-foot-11 Ahmad Al Dwairi, who is averaging 12.7 points and 10.3 rebounds. There's also 6-foot-11 Mohammad Hussein and 6-foot-9 Zaid Abbas, who plays as a power forward, but is a veteran at the game.
So the 6-foot-8 Kelly Williams knows Reyes is in a pinch, even though he only heard about the call-up that Wednesday.
He's got some advantages though, since he's already aware of Reyes' system as a part of the TNT Tropang Giga.
Williams has also played in the Asian Qualifiers, making four points, four rebounds, an assist, and two steals against India in the first round. He also grabbed four more boards, another dime, and two more swipes against New Zealand.
He's keeping it low though, since the list has yet to be trimmed down to the final 12.
"I have no expectations. I'm just gonna do what I do. I'm gonna prepare my body, prepare my mind, and help the team the best way I possibly can," he said.
The Philippines and Lebanon have already qualified for the World Cup later this year, but the final window is expected to give a taste of what it's like to play in the Philippine Arena. Gilas will take on the Cedars on February 24 at 6 PM, and will then welcome the Falcons on February 27, also at 6 PM.