MANILA, Philippines - Versatile forward Kelly Williams has taken an indefinite leave because of his old ailment, leaving a gap in the Talk n Text roster in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup and casting doubt on his participation in the national team for the coming 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
For coach Chot Reyes, the most important thing, though, is for Williams to get well and “live as normal a life as possible for his wife and kids.â€
“I’m not even thinking about FIBA or any competition,†said Reyes.
The national team coach is confident the one-time PBA MVP awardee can overcome his health problem.
“For Kelly to have played at this high level for this long time while battling a crippling disease is testament to his courage and faith,†said Reyes.
Talk n Text coach Norman Black announced yesterday Williams’ indefinite medical leave.
“Kelly is taking an indefinite leave of absence as advised by the doctors. Kelly has always struggled with his ailment for the last four years because he has to take medications that has side effects,†said Black.
“He has good days and he has bad days. But lately, the days have been not so good. So it’s indefinite, we don’t know when he’ll be back,†Black added.
The 6-foot-6 forward was still a Sta. Lucia Realtor and was with the PBA delegation in Davao during the 2009 All-Star Week when he was diagnosed with thrombocytopenia. The terms thrombocytopenia and thrombopenia refer to a relative decrease of platelets in blood.
He missed the remainder of the season and also had to skip his supposed participation in the national team in the 2009 Tianjin FIBA Asia Championship.
As he recovered, he helped Talk n Text in a dominant run in the local pro league and finally saw action with the national team in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship.
But he has since felt the side effects of his medications, forcing him to take an indefinite leave.
His teammates and friends wish him well.