MANILA, Philippines—Mikey Williams, the former TNT Tropang Giga star, will make his Philippine comeback when he bolsters Strong Group Athletics (SGA) in the 2025 Dubai International Basketball Championship, which tips off January 24.

Williams last saw action in April 2023 when he led TNT to a title in the PBA Governors’ Cup before the prolific guard and the Tropang Giga had a contract dispute that led to the termination of his contract.

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“I’m excited to be working with him again,” said SGA coach Charles Tiu. “I was quite close to him before. We won two championships together, and hopefully, we can win another one.”

READ: No Mikey Williams for Strong Group in Dubai

Tiu and Williams won two championships together with Mighty Sports in the 2019 William Jones Cup and the 2020 Dubai Basketball Championship.

Williams was supposed to suit up for SGA in the Dubai tilt last year but things didn’t fall into place.

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The 33-year-old Williams joins an already-stacked Philippine side, which is led by former NBA veterans DeMarcus Cousins and Andray Blatche as well as fellow American reinforcements Malachi Richardson and Terry Larrier.

READ: Andray Blatche mulls retirement after Strong Group run in Dubai

Blatche, a naturalized Filipino and represented the country in numerous international tournaments, had said that his impending stint with SGA could be his last.

Crack Filipino-American playmaker Jason Brickman, Angelo Kouame, Rhenz Abando and Dave Ildefonso are also part of the squad and so are Tiu’s College of St. Benilde wards in reigning NCAA MVP Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot and Justine Sanchez.

Strong Group is eyeing redemption after losing in the title game to Lebanon’s Al Riyadi on a buzzer-beater despite parading former NBA superstar Dwight Howard.