Maverick Ahanmisi is coming off his finest season in the Philippine Basketball Association but it took him a few more months before finding a new team he hopes to call his new home: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
His arrival is ideal as the Gin Kings are struggling with the possibility of seeing their resident and reliable import Justin Brownlee get suspended owing to a doping case following his stint in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
The good news is that Ahanmisi could not only shore up the backcourt of Ginebra but will provide more stability sharing the guard duties while playing alongside Stanley Pringle and the returning LA Tenorio.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone is obviously thrilled to see Ahanmisi wearing the Ginebra jersey.
“Mav is making an impact in the lineup,” wrote Cone in a Viber message to DAILY TRIBUNE. “We’re extremely happy about him.”
Ahanmisi had a breakout season playing for Converge last year where he averaged a personal-best 19.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals in the Governors’ Cup.
For Ahanmisi, winding up with the league’s most popular team is a blessing.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been blessed playing for a team coached by some of the all-time best coaches. Before, I was coached by Yeng Guiao at Rain or Shine and now, I have an opportunity to play for Coach Tim Cone at Ginebra,” Ahanmisi said during a telephone conversation.
“I don’t know if that’s part of the plan, but I now found myself in a much better position to win another championship,” said Ahanmisi, who won his first and only title so far while playing for Rain or Shine in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup under Guiao.
But while waiting for the best opportunity, Ahanmisi kept himself in shape while he was in the United States.
“I went back to California and trained there with my trainer, getting myself ready just in case there’s a call up,” he said.
Prior to joining the Gin Kings, Ahanmisi waited for the right opportunity and studied his options carefully, and one of the options was playing overseas.
“Of course, it has crossed my mind. But as soon as you weighed things, even though there would be good offers to play overseas, it would lead you back to reality that the Philippines is home.”
“I have a family here. My brother is living here and playing in the PBA and I have a nephew here now as well. At the end of the day, the PBA is still the best option and there’s no bigger blessing than playing for Ginebra.”
Ahanmisi is certainly happy where he is.
