Phoenix Super LPG Turns to Johnathan Williams to Salvage Playoff Hopes Against TNT

Key facts

• Phoenix Super LPG (5-4) faces TNT Tropang 5G (6-3) on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
• Johnathan Williams replaces James Dickey III, who sat out the Converge game with a sprained ankle.
• Williams averaged 24.5 points, 16.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks in the 2023-24 Commissioner's Cup.
• TNT's Bol Bol leads the league in scoring (38.0 ppg) and blocks (4.2 bpg) with 14.78 rebounds.
• Phoenix center Kai Ballungay remains out with a sprain, leaving a gap in the frontline.
• A win would keep Phoenix in contention for a top-four finish and a twice-to-beat advantage.
• Phoenix has not reached the quarterfinals since Williams led them to the semifinals in Season 48.

A Season on the Line

Phoenix Super LPG will take the floor at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday with their playoff fate hanging in the balance, hoping that the return of former Best Import Johnathan Williams can reverse a slide that began with a 103-130 drubbing at the hands of Converge last Sunday. That loss, in which import James Dickey III opted not to play due to a sprained ankle, dropped the Fuel Masters to a 5-4 record and exposed a fragility that coach Charles Tiu acknowledged on Wednesday. "We have to give a harder effort than what we did against Converge," Tiu said, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino. "At least, our last practices were better, so there's some positivity there." TNT Tropang 5G, meanwhile, arrives fresh from a 119-112 victory over Macau on April 24 and carries a 6-3 slate. A win would secure their quarterfinal berth and, if they also beat Magnolia on May 5 and Barangay Ginebra on May 10, could earn them a top-four finish and a win-once advantage in the next round. The stakes are equally high for Phoenix: a loss would tie them with Magnolia and San Miguel Beer, complicating their path to the playoffs.

The Return of a Proven Force

Johnathan Williams is no stranger to the PBA Commissioner's Cup. In the 2023-24 edition, he averaged 24.5 points, 16.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks over 17 games, earning Best Import honors and propelling Phoenix to a semifinal appearance. That run remains the franchise's deepest playoff advance since, and the last time they reached the postseason at all. Now, with Dickey sidelined after informing the team of his unavailability "just minutes before tip-off" against Converge, Williams steps back into the role of primary import. Tiu confirmed the swap on Wednesday, expressing cautious optimism. "They have the best scoring import in Bol Bol so we'll have our hands full for sure," Tiu said, referring to TNT's 7-foot-3 winger who leads the league in points (38.0 per game) and blocks (4.2 per game) while grabbing 14.78 rebounds. But Tiu noted that Williams and his local teammates have shown renewed commitment in practice, offering a glimmer of hope after the Converge debacle.

TNT's Multidimensional Threat

TNT's arsenal extends well beyond Bol Bol. The Tropa also feature Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Calvin Oftana, and Roger Pogoy, who was rested in the Macau game and is expected to be available Friday. The team's depth has been a key factor in their 6-3 start, and their balanced attack will test a Phoenix defense that allowed 130 points to Converge. Tiu acknowledged the challenge, emphasizing that his team must compete regardless of circumstances. "It's on us to give ourselves a chance and to compete, so obviously we have to play better. If we play like the way we did against Converge, we're not gonna win any of our last three games," he said. Phoenix will also be without starting center Kai Ballungay, who remains out with a sprain, leaving a significant hole in the frontline. The absence forces Tiu to rely on a thinner rotation, making Williams' rebounding and rim protection even more critical.

Playoff Math and Urgency

Phoenix currently holds the sixth spot in the standings with a 5-4 record. A victory over TNT would keep them within striking distance of a top-four finish and the accompanying twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. A loss, however, would drop them into a tie with Magnolia and San Miguel Beer, intensifying the pressure in their remaining games against Macau and San Miguel. Tiu's immediate focus is simply on reaching the playoffs. "We're just trying to fight kasi we haven't been in this position in a long time. So we have to win two games man lang sana to make the playoffs," he said, referring to the need for at least two wins in their last three games. The team's playoff drought—they have not reached the quarterfinals since Williams led them there in Season 48—adds a layer of urgency. Tiu's message to his players is clear: every possession matters, and the margin for error is razor-thin.

Outlook and Open Questions

Friday's game will serve as an immediate test of whether Williams can rekindle the chemistry that made him a league MVP candidate. His individual numbers from the 2023-24 season suggest he can, but the supporting cast has changed, and the team's confidence is fragile after the Converge loss. TNT, meanwhile, has the momentum of a recent win and the league's most dominant import. If Bol Bol continues his torrid pace, Phoenix may struggle to contain him even with Williams on the floor. Beyond Friday, Phoenix faces Macau and San Miguel Beer, while TNT has Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra. The outcomes of those games will determine whether the Fuel Masters' gamble on a familiar import pays off or whether they face another early exit. For now, Tiu is focused on the immediate task: "Basta lumaban naman kami," he said—"As long as we fight."

The bottom line

• Johnathan Williams returns to Phoenix Super LPG as a replacement for injured import James Dickey III, hoping to replicate his Best Import form from the 2023-24 season.
• Phoenix (5-4) needs a win over TNT (6-3) to keep alive its chances for a top-four finish and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
• TNT's Bol Bol leads the league in scoring (38.0 ppg) and blocks (4.2 bpg), posing a major challenge for Phoenix's depleted frontline.
• Phoenix center Kai Ballungay is out with a sprain, leaving the team thin in the paint.
• A loss would tie Phoenix with Magnolia and San Miguel Beer, intensifying the pressure in their remaining games against Macau and San Miguel.
• Phoenix has not reached the quarterfinals since Williams led them to the semifinals in Season 48.