Kelly Williams hurts knee in Gilas Pilipinas practice

MANILA, Philippines — More bad news for Gilas Pilipinas.

Veteran big man Kelly Williams hurt his right knee just as practice of the national men’s basketball team was starting on Monday evening, August 3 at the Meralco Gym.

Williams, 33, slipped as drills ensued and he laid on the floor clutching his right knee for an extended period of time. He was said to have not heard a pop but the Talk ‘N Text forward was visibly in pain and had to be lifted off the floor and onto a chair.

He was iced for several minutes with his head in his hands before being helped off the court and taken to Cardinal Santos Medical Center for an MRI. There has been no confirmation on his condition since that point. 

Willaims was names to the PBA’s initial list of players for the Gilas pool from which head coach Tab Baldwin will select his final line-up for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Changsa, Hunan this September. 

(READ: Alapag on PH’s FIBA bid: ‘We’ve proven giants can be taken down’)

Williams, the 2008 PBA MVP, was a former member of the national team and participated in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan.

The Gilas pool has hit a number of snags already with June Mar Fajardo (injured) and Marc Pingris (trip abroad) still doubtful, while LA Tenorio begged off citing fatigue. — Rappler.com