Maverick Ahanmisi not surprised by little brother Jerrick’s scoring spree

MANILA, Philippines – One of the biggest surprises so far in UAAP Season 79 has been the quick rise of Adamson Soaring Falcons guard Jerrick Ahanmisi, who two games into his team’s campaign is averaging 23.5 points on 71% shooting, 5.5 rebounds, and two assists a contest.

Jerrick is the younger brother of PBA Rookie of the Year Candidate Maverick Ahanmisi from the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who watched his sibling play in the collegiate sports league for the first time on Sunday, September 11.

Jerrick and the Falcons lost to defending champion FEU Tamaraws, but the UAAP rookie out of Burbank, California, once again led his team in scoring with 19 points. After the game, Maverick discussed how pleased he is with the performance of his little brother, whom he feels has found the right fit under the tutelage of Adamson coach Franz Pumaren.

“I think he’s playing well. It just happened for him to be in a system where he’s comfortable. He’s under a coach that believes in him, so for me, helping him out and stuff, to find a school, that was the biggest thing for me. To find a coach like Coach Franz who’s going to push him and also believe in him,” said Maverick.

Many UAAP freshmen take time before putting up big scoring numbers, but that hasn’t been the case for Jerrick. In his two starts, he’s shot 7-of-10 from deep, 8-of-11 from inside the arc, and 10-of-12 from the foul stripe. Nine of his 15 made field goals were even classified as “defended” by UAAP stats.

In only 63 and a half minutes of play, Ahanmisi has already presented the Soaring Falcons with a go-to scoring option.

“I already knew he was going to score, that’s what he likes to do,” said Maverick. “The biggest thing for me is the transition to the physicality. I thought that was going to be a big thing, but like I said, Coach Franz and the coaching staff got that into him real quick.”

Maverick did admit that he’d “like to see [Jerrick] talk more, try to be a leader,” but also pointed out he sees his little brother already making an effort to improve in that area.

Before landing in Adamson, Ahanmisi tried out for La Salle, Ateneo, and NU. There were no spots for him with the Green Archers and Blue Eagles because of their already-loaded guard rotations, while landing with the Bulldogs simply just didn’t push through.

Pumaren, who is in his first year coaching Adamson, took a chance with the younger Ahanmisi, and so far it’s clearly providing dividends.

“The satisfaction for me [is] to see that Coach Franz gave him the chance and he’s giving that trust back to Coach Franz. Showing him that he didn’t make the wrong decision,” said Maverick.

“It was going to be his choice no matter what, where he wanted to go, and I was just trying to give him so advise on what to look for in a school,” big brother said about the recruitment process. “I’m glad he chose this kind of system cause it fits him and he’s playing really well right now. I’m happy for him.”

Both Ahanmisi brothers have become known as solid shooters from deep, and when Maverick was asked who would win in a shootout, at first he said ,“It will be close.”

Asked again to pick just one winner, he responded, “I’m picking me, of course.” – Rappler.com