Ex-TNT star Mikey Williams joins Cousins, Blatche, Kouame in stacked SGA for Dubai
MANILA, Philippines – Former PBA Finals Most Valuable Player Mikey Williams returns to the country to reinforce a Strong Group Athletics (SGA) squad looking to win the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship later this month.
Williams, 33, immediately went to practice after arriving in Manila on Tuesday, January 14, according to the team.
“He was good,” head coach Charles Tiu told Rappler in a message. “I’m excited to be working with him again.”
Williams is already familiar with Tiu’s system as the combo guard previously played for him under the Mighty Sports banner in the 2019 William Jones Cup and the 2020 Dubai Basketball Championship — both resulting in title wins.
He was supposed to play for the team in 2024 but reneged on his commitment, earning the ire of team management, but cooler heads have seemingly prevailed this time.
The Fil-Am guard last played in the PBA in 2023, after a lengthy impasse caused the Tropang Giga to terminate Williams’ contract in November that year.
During his brief but memorable stint in Asia’s first pro basketball league, Williams won the scoring title, the Rookie of the Year award, as well as spots in the First and Second Mythical teams, respectively.
“I was quite close to him before. We won two championships together, and hopefully, we can win another one,” said Tiu.
Williams joins former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins, who has not yet arrived, as well as former KBL imports Rhenz Abando and Dave Ildefonso.
Also rostered in the squad are Jason Brickman, Gilas naturalized center Ange Kouame, NCAA Season 100 MVP Allen Liwag, teammates Tony Ynot and Justine Sanchez.
Completing the team are Malachi Richardson, and Terry Larrier, as well as longtime Gilas center Andray Blatche, who is contemplating retirement after this stint.
In the 33rd edition held in 2024, the team bannered by Dwight Howard and Andre Roberson fell to Al-Riyadi in the championship game, 77-74, courtesy of a buzzer-beating three by Ismail Ahmed Abdelmoneim.
The annual competition is set from January 24 to February 2, 2025. – Rappler.com