Kelly Williams retires from the PBA

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

The PBA will surely miss Magoo Marjon, Quinito Henson, and Andy Jao fill-up the fans’ ears with “Machine gun Kelly, rocking the rim with another follow-up dunk! Oh my goodness.”

After 14 years, one of the most athletic players the PBA has ever witnessed will be hanging his jersey for good after announcing he is retirement..

Kelly “Machine Gun Kelly” Williams announced through his social media account that he is exiting the doors of the PBA.

“It’s with gladness and sadness that I announce my retirement from basketball. I could not have predicted that I’d have the kind of career I was able to experience,” wrote Williams in his statement posted on social media.

The high-flying Williams will retire boasting a bevy of achievements such as being the 2008 PBA Most Valuable Player, slam-dunk champion, and Rookie of the Year during their 2007-2008 championship season with Sta. Lucia.

During the 2010 season, the PBA was shocked after Sta. Lucia sent him to TNT Katropa in a deal package that proved to be one of the most crucial decisions TNT made.

In the last 10 years he spent with TNT, he was a stable veteran leader in the sidelines but most of the time, handled the tough power-forwards of the opposing team while being a problem on the other end in the four-position with the speed and quickness he had against them.

Aside from being the former MVP and slam-dunk champion, Williams was also a six-time champion in the league, a two-time Comeback Player of the Year awardee, and a three-time Mythical First team member.