Machine Gun Kelly reunites with Tropa

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran Kelly Williams is back in the TNT Tropang Giga fold after spending the previous year as a “retiree.”

The 6-foot-6 Williams picked up his sneakers again to reunite with TNT and returning coach Chot Reyes as the Tropang Giga plot their drive for glory in the PBA Season 46 wars.

Williams, who played for the PLDT-Smart franchise from 2010 to 2019 but retired just before last year’s bubble tournament, signed up for two years, according to the team.

“Welcome back, Kelly, great to have you back. Cheers,” TNT governor and PBA chairman Ricky Vargas said yesterday.

“His leadership and experience will help us achieve success in the upcoming conference,” said Tropang Giga team manager Gabby Cui.

The 2008 MVP had surprised everyone when he called it a career in September last year after attending one week of the TNT training bubble.

TNT initially considered Williams, who had a live contract until Dec. 31, 2020, “AWOL” after learning of his retirement in social media. But after further discussions, TNT and the six-time PBA champ eventually patched things up and came to terms, leading to Williams’ 2021 comeback.

“Machine Gun Kelly” was even featured doing drills in a video of TNT’s practice posted by Reyes on Instagram yesterday right before the squad announced his signing.

Williams returned to a TNT frontline boosted by the recent acquisitions of Glenn Khobuntin and Dave Marcelo from free agency. They will join forces with young stars Poy Erram and Troy Rosario in manning the TNT frontcourt for Reyes.