CHICAGO - After re-signing Schonny Winston and picking Juan Gomez de Liano in last Sunday's PBA Rookie Draft, you'd think the Converge FiberXers have settled in with their already formidable line-up.
Apparently, they have not.
Per multiple sources, the team attempted to re-acquire Maverick Ahanmisi from Barangay Ginebra but the deal fell through because the Gin Kings reportedly wanted a first-round pick for the 34-year old guard.
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Converge, I was told, was interested only in doling out a second-rounder and Pao Javillonar.
Ahanmisi played for Converge in the 2022-23 season where he averaged 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per in 36 games before leaving as an unrestricted free agent and signing with the most popular team in the league.
But in his case, the grass didn't seem to be greener on the other side,
After averaging 31 minutes per game at Converge, working hard like a single mom with three jobs, Ahanmisi's playing time dipped to 13 minutes an outing in the Philippine Cup where he averaged just 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
Although he had flashes of brilliance in the playoffs, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft has generally been at the tail end of coach Tim Cone's notoriously short rotation.
Signed to a three-year max deal last September 2023, it is unclear if Ginebra will entertain other suitors for Ahanmisi.
RIVERO TO STAY.
After much speculation about his future, Ricci Rivero is staying put with the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
"Ricci will be signing (a contract extension) tomorrow," a source told me on Wednesday night.
The 6-foot-1 Rivero, a star at La Salle, averaged 6.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists last conference while shooting a high 40.9 percent clip from 3.
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