TNT gets Gilas pick, targets Mikey Williams at four after three-team trade

TNT put itself in prime real estate in getting an apt replacement for disgruntled guard Bobby Ray Parks Jr.

Thursday morning, the PBA approved a three-team trade that saw the Tropang Giga give up Simon Enciso, David Semerad, their first round pick in the 2023 PBA Draft, and second round pick in the 2024 Draft to Blackwater for NLEX’s fourth overall pick in the 2021 rookie festivities.

NLEX was able to send the pick to TNT after figuring in a trade with Blackwater that saw the Road Warriors get Don Trollano, Roi Sumang, Maurice Shaw, and the Bossing’s second round pick in the 2022 draft.

Besides the fourth overall pick in the first round of the regular draft, the Tropang Giga also got the last pick in the Gilas draft.

“Same pa rin ang order sa Gilas draft,” PBA commissioner Willie Marcial told Tiebreaker Times during the announcement of the third-ever Gilas draft.

That means that the teams picking from new Gilas pool members William Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, Jordan Heading, and Tzaddy Rangel are Terrafirma, Northport, NLEX, and TNT, in that order.

For the regular draft, Joshua Munzon and Jamie Malonzo are seemed to be locked as the first and second overall pick set to be made by Terrafirma and Northport, respectively.

With the trade, however, NLEX is looking to get 6-foot-5 all-around forward Calvin Oftana at three. This will pave the way for TNT to nab Mikey Williams at four, a player which has been recommended by Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes’ inner circle to him for the longest time, according to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation.

Williams will be an apt replacement for Parks.

Standing at 6-foot-2, Williams, a former G League player with Canton, can play both guard positions with ease. He also played for ABL team Saigon, MPBL club General Santos, and Philippine team Mighty Sports.

According to Mighty Sports head coach and Coaches Unfiltered host Charles Tiu, Williams is a “game-changer” that can definitely bring instant impact to TNT. Side him up with a Jayson Castro and TNT has itself a formidable backcourt.