Mikey Williams not rushing to bring old game back in PBA return

MANILA, Philippines – Mikey Williams takes his time when he has the ball in his hands, patiently waiting for the defender to make a mistake before he goes for the attack. 

As he returns to the PBA following a three-year hiatus, Williams is taking the same unhurried approach.

The 34-year-old guard saw action in the PBA for the first time since 2023, tallying 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal in 12 minutes to help Converge pull off a 102-94 win over guest team Macau Black Knights in their Commissioner’s Cup opener on Wednesday, March 11.

While it was not his usual high-scoring performance, Williams believes it will not be long before fans witness his old, dangerous self again.

“In due time. We’re not going to rush. This is my first game back. We’ve got a long season. It’ll come, when it comes, if it comes,” said the former PBA scoring champion.

Williams almost did not play on Wednesday as he needed to secure a clearance from FIBA, which came only before the start of the final period. 

He was pivotal in that fourth-quarter turnaround that saw the FiberXers finish the game on an 18-6 run after trailing 84-88. 

“They inserted me and it just felt good to be out there. It took about maybe one or two minutes until I realized I was really out there. I got a good deal of sweat in,” he said. 

Having been away from the PBA for years, Williams is simply glad to be back.

Williams last played in the league in the 2023 Governors’ Cup finals, where he helped lead TNT to a six-game conquest of Barangay Ginebra.

He had a falling out with Tropang Giga over a contract dispute — the team terminating his contract in 2023 and trading him to Converge in exchange for Jordan Heading in 2025. 

“Being able to just do what I love to do, that’s the hardest thing to fathom. I was just happy to touch the court and be able to bounce the ball again,” Williams said. 

A two-time Finals MVP, Williams hopes to impart his championship experience to a team that has yet to make it past the quarterfinals in franchise history. 

“They already have a great foundation from guards to bigs. I’m just trying to serve myself where I see fit,” he said.

“I know I have to take a bit of a leadership role with this group. The coaches are asking me to be more vocal, just from my experience I’ve gathered with my previous team and just trying to bring that in and help the guys as best as I can.” – Rappler.com