A Change of Heart: Kelly Williams re-joins TNT Franchise

Another comeback for TNT Tropang Giga has taken place as former PBA Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Kelly Williams signs a 2-year contract with the franchise he steered to 5 championships.

The return of Machine Gun Kelly comes shortly after Chot Reyes was reinstated as the head coach of the MVP Group flagship team.

Williams shocked the basketball community including his own team after announcing his retirement in September last year while the Tropang Giga is inside a bubble in Calamba to prepare for the upcoming season.

Despite this unceremonious event, TNT warmly embraced back the athletic forward/center as team manager Gabby Cui said in a statement, "We would like to welcome Kelly back to TNT Tropang GIGA. His leadership and experience will help us achieve success in the upcoming conference.”

The statement was backed up by PBA Chairman and team governor Ricky Vargas with "Welcome home Kelly, great to have you back. Cheers!"

In fact, before the formal announcement of TNT Management, Coach Chot Reyes already teases fans with Kelly’s comeback as he posted on Instagram on Thursday morning a clip showing team practice at the Moro Lorenzo Gym in Quezon City where it showed the 38-year-old Williams participating in a dribbling drill.

Reyes also stated that he had a heart-to-heart talk with Kelly as soon as the Management told him that the versatile veteran is open for a return and he is very happy to have his reliable player back in the helm.

Kelly has career averages of 10.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He has won multiple “Comeback Player of the Year” awards back in 2010 and 2017.

TNT is looking to end their 6-year title drought in the upcoming 46^th season of the PBA and avenge their Finals lost to Ginebra in the Philippine Cup of PBA Bubble last year where the team was hobbled by injuries to key players.

Photo is from PBA Images