What’s in a name?
In the PBA, there are four Williamses playing and they’re not related. Mikey Williams and Kelly Williams are with TNT. Troy Williams is Blackwater’s import while Jordan Williams is with Terrafirma. There’s a William, without an s, in the TNT roster and he’s Jayson Castro who uses his mother’s surname in the PBA and his father’s surname William in international competitions because that’s what his passport shows.
Four sets of brothers are in the pros. Mike Nieto plays for Rain or Shine and twin Matt for NLEX. They’re not identical twins. Mike is 6-2 and weighs about 200 pounds while Matt is 6-1 and scales 160. The Nietos, 25, were picked in the special Gilas draft in 2019 with Matt the third choice and Mike the fifth. Maverick Ahanmisi, 31, is with Converge and younger brother Jerrick, 25, with Magnolia. Maverick played for D-1 University of Minnesota. Jerrick was Adamson’s top gunner in the UAAP. They were both born in California. Their father Victor is Nigerian while mother Marissa Frankera is from Alcala, Pangasinan.
Russel Escoto, 30, is with Magnolia and brother Richard, 25, with Blackwater. Both saw action for FEU in the UAAP. Matt GanuelasRosser, 32, plays for TNT and brother Brandon, 28, for NLEX. Matt was born in Olongapo and qualifies as a local for the Philippine team under the rule of jus soli or right of soil. He played at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona and was NLEX’ first-round pick, fourth overall, in the 2014 PBA draft. Brandon was born in San Diego, played at Central Arizona and University of California at Riverside then was Blackwater’s first-round pick, No. 1 overall, in the 2022 draft. Matt was on the Gilas squads that struck gold at the 2013 SEA Games and bagged a silver at the 2015 FIBA Asia Cup. Brandon was on the 3x3 team that pocketed a bronze at the 2021 SEA Games.
There are two Gos in PBA rosters – Isaac with Terrafirma and Jollo with Phoenix – and three Cruzes – Jericho with San Miguel, Carl Bryan with TNT and Art de la Cruz with NorthPort. There are two Aguilars – Japeth and Raymond play for Barangay Ginebra.
Before Troy and Jordan came to play in this Governors’ Cup, 12 other Williamses had seen action as imports – Chris (San Miguel), Donald (Shell), Freeman (Tanduay), Hank (U-Tex), Justin (San Miguel), Kevin (Shell), LD (Alaska), Larry (Alaska), Reggie (San Miguel), Rob (Tanduay), Sean (GlobalPort) and Terrence (Meralco). Freeman, who passed away at 65 last April, played for the LA Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz and Washington Bullets (now Wizards) in six NBA seasons. In 1976-77, Freeman averaged 38.8 points and the next year, 35.9 to lead the NCAA in scoring both seasons. Rob was another Williams legend. He was Denver’s first-round pick in 1982 from the University of Houston. Rob led Tanduay to the 1986 PBA reinforced title. In 1998, Rob suffered a stroke that compromised his left eye vision and left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. He died of congestive heart failure at 52 in 2014.
This conference’s Williams boys are prolific scorers. Troy, 28, went to Indiana University and played for Memphis, Houston, New York and Sacramento in three NBA seasons, earning $3.1 million. In his PBA debut, Troy erupted for 55 points in Blackwater’s 119-106 loss to Terrafirma last Feb. 9. Jordan, 30, fired 57 to lead the Dyip in a fiery duel of the Williamses. Jordan played for the University of North Texas and saw action in the UK, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Dominican Republic, Argentina and Canada before landing in the PBA.