Kelly Williams is still nursing an ankle injury he sustained during TNT's best-of-seven semifinal showdown with Rain or Shine in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Kelly Williams was noticeably missing for TNT when the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals press conference got going Friday afternoon, July 11.
Williams has yet to recover from the ankle injury he sustained in the Tropang 5G’s 108-92 win in Game 4 of the semifinals against Rain or Shine.
TNT coach Chot Reyes later bared he is “doubtful” for Game 1 of the best-of-seven titular showdown with San Miguel Sunday, July 13.
“Doubtful. That’s why he couldn’t make it here because we wanted to keep him off his feet,” Reyes said.
[RELATED STORY: Chot Reyes calls TNT’s 2011 Grand Slam miss ‘ancient history,’ eyes PBA Finals win on merit]
Even at 43, former league Most Valuable Player Williams has remained instrumental in Reyes’ rotation, especially for defensive purposes.
With the Fil-Am big expected to still be sidelined, TNT will have to bank heavily on Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Poy Erram inside the paint where eight-time MVP and San Miguel superstar June Mar Fajardo will be lurking.
But there’s a chance another injured player in RR Pogoy (hamstring) will see action for Reyes in the high-stakes match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Pogoy revealed in the presser that he can finally jog.
“Kanina, first time kong mag-try mag-jogging. OK naman, wala naman akong napi-feel [na pain],” said Pogoy.
Pogoy said that he will wait for clearance Saturday on whether he could play or not in the series opener.
[RELATED STORY: Will RR Pogoy suit up for TNT Tropang 5G in Game 1 of PBA Finals vs San Miguel Beermen?]
But while Reyes can expect Pogoy to join the team, it’s not the case for Williams.
“It’s a day-to-day situation. But like I said, he’s not even joining our practice this morning. It will be day-to-day,” Reyes said.