Eight championships later and it’s still a different feeling every time for Williams.
Eight PBA titles in 16 seasons in the PBA. Former PBA MVP Kelly Williams has done it all in his PBA career.
Usually, it’s the first title that is the most memorable for players—but not for the five-time PBA All-Star.
“It is cliche to say that winning never gets old, but it's really a different feeling every time and this one for me is personally, super special,” Williams told The Game on Monday.
Williams explained that playing the veteran role for the TNT Tropang Giga, champions of the recent PBA Governors' Cup, brings a different kind of fulfillment.
“Just being able to be around these young guys, these young talents, watching them bloom and blossom not only as players but as men, I've been fortunate to be put in this position,” said Williams, who's also among the PBA's 40 Greatest Players.
Williams' presence on the defensive end, wherein he held the fort against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, earned the praise of both his teammates and the fans.
His performance only becomes more impressive considering the fact that he recently bounced back from an injury. Williams suffered a pulled calf during the quarterfinals of the season-ending conference, and made only his return in Game 3 of the finals.
“It was weird how things happened,” said Williams. “I went down in the quarterfinals, that was the day Poy [Erram] came back. And then we lose Justin [Chua] in Game 1 of the Finals, and then we lose Roger [Pogoy] in the game I come back," said Williams.
"That's kind of been the rollercoaster for our team since last year.”
Overcoming those challenges only makes their title win sweeter.
And with still plenty of time before the next PBA season, Williams can continue to rest up and prepare to possibly bring home his ninth title.