Kelly Williams will be Joining the Team Philippines Basketball

ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines—Kelly Williams (196-F, college: Oakland) got the go-signal from mother club Sta. Lucia to play for the National team, but only after the Realtors have completed their participation in the on-going Fiesta Cup.

Sta. Lucia team manager Buddy Encarnado last night told scribes at the Ynares Center here that the team was willing to let go of Williams, subject to the condition set by the PBA board.

“I told the (PBA and Samahang Basketbol Pilipinas) that it is an honor and a privilege for us to have Kelly join the national team,” Encarnado said. “The PBA told us that they will not touch him as long as we still have games to play (in the Fiesta Cup).”

Williams was named as an additional member of the RP Five along with another Filipino-American, Gabe Norwood, by coach Chot Reyes on Thursday during a meeting with SBP bosses and PBA commissioner Noli Eala.

He was initially named to the RP pool two years ago and played for the Nationals in the Jones Cup in Taipei. Norwood is in the process of putting his citizenship papers in order.


lifted from Inquirer