Given the challenges he and the team faced to get there, Kelly Williams ranks his most recent PBA title as one of the most memorable of his lengthy career.

With all the obstacles he had to overcome, both mentally and physically, the 42-year-old Williams claimed that winning his ninth championship with TNT—and his second since coming out of retirement in 2021—was one of the hardest things he had ever done.

“I’ve always said that each championship has its own special factors that make it special,” said Williams. “This one was no different.”. “Personally, I had a lot of trials, things I had to deal with, (expletive) cry just thinking about it. Off the court, on the court, injuries, a lot of setbacks. But my teammates really just picked me up, coach Chot [Reyes] and the rest of the staff stood by me and trusted me. Personally, this is one of my top championship experiences.” the player added.

Williams responded that he played this conference away from his sons, who are both in the United States, when questioned about the difficulties.

“I really wanted my sons to be here to watch the finals. I don’t want to say it’s bittersweet. But seeing everyone with their families and kids. Obviously, I’m happy for my teammates and I want to see them win. But then, the other side of me is like, ‘Damn, I wish my sons were here,’” he said.

Williams was overjoyed that one of his two boys was among the first to contact him following the triumph.

In addition, the former PBA MVP missed a couple of games during the semifinal series versus Rain or Shine due to ailments.

Notwithstanding the challenges, Williams performed well when it counted most, particularly in the final two games, starting with Game Five, where he finished with 11 points and three rebounds in their victory over Barangay Ginebra, 99-92.

The No. 1 choice in the 2006 rookie draft finished with four points, four rebounds, and four assists. He also made a crucial layup during TNT’s 10-0 last pick, which sealed the 95-85 victory that won the championship.

While on the other hand, Tim Cone praised Rondae Hollis Jefferson and TNT’s defense for making Justine Brownlee, an import from Barangay Ginebra, miserable at the recently finished PBA Governors Cup Finals.

The Ginebra coach also held himself accountable for not doing enough to assist the 36-year-old Brownlee in getting out of the Tropang Giga’s defense.

In a sense, Cone’s handling of the persistent problem around Brownlee’s suspected health condition was what caused the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player to suffer for nearly the whole tournament.

Despite playing nearly 43 minutes per game on average, Brownlee, a three-time Best Import winner, only averaged 19.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.

Hollis Jefferson, who averaged 25.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 44 playing minutes per game, will undoubtedly be compared to those figures.

Cone, 66, however, claimed that he also had his share because of JB’s un-Brownlee-like performance during the championship series.

“Justine was great against San Miguel and struggled at times, too,” Regarding the Kings’ series versus the Beermen in the semifinals, Cone stated. “He’s not superman. Again, when he’s not playing well, that’s on me. That’s my fault,” admitted the champion mentor. “That’s not him. I had to figure out a way to get him open, to get him free, to get him shots, and I wasn’t able to do that this time.”

For JB, the ball is his life

Cone also brought up the fact that Brownlee had been playing basketball all year long in case anyone had forgotten.

“He’s a little worn down,” Cone pointed out. “Right now, he’s got to turn around and start practicing with Gilas. So he got Gilas next, and then what? Three days after Gilas, a new conference starts.”

In the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, which will take place at the Mall of Asia Arena from November 21–24, Brownlee will lead the national team’s campaign against visiting teams Hong Kong and New Zealand.

The mid-season Commissioner’s Cup then begins on November 27, and the Kings are hoping to import the 6-foot-6 Brownlee once more.

It’s possible that Brownlee’s cramping issues reappeared multiple times during the first conference due to the game’s wear and strain.

Although Brownlee’s potential hamstring injury was being discussed, the Ginebra team made no official announcement regarding what might have happened to the Kings’ resident import during the championship series.