SLOWLY but surely, Jerrick Ahanmisi is finally settling down with San Miguel.
And back up wingman Royce Mantua plays a big part on helping him get comfortable with his new environment.
As the 28-year-old Ahanmisi finally played his best game as a Beerman, no one was more than happy than Mantua, his fellow Adamson University alumnus.
READ: Jerrick Ahanmisi breaks out for SMB to lead Beermen past Titan
Mantua celebrated with Ahanmisi just as he was being interviewed on national tv after emerging as the Best Player of the Game in San Miguel’s blowout win over Titan Ultra, 143-105, Wednesday night in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Ahanmisi, acquired in a trade along with Paolo Hernandez from Terrafirma for Juami Tiongson and rookie Chris Miller, finished with 26 points and three rebounds in San Miguel’s fourth win in five outings.
After five games, Ahanmisi said he has learned to embrace San Miguel’s system.
“It was a good showing for me just because of the way I’ve been playing. I kind of hold a high standard for myself and the past couple of games I haven’t been playing at my best,” he said.
“So today I’m just glad I found my rhythm early and I also got my teammates involved so today was a good showing for me so I just got to keep on rolling.”
He said Mantua, the Beermen’s third round pick in the Season 50 draft, has been a big help for him to get acquainted with the team.
“He’s the one i sit next to practice every day. So me and him had gotten kind of close,” he admitted. “i just been able to talk to him every day. And he’s been making San Miguel comfortable for me.”
Before scoring his highest output with San Miguel, Ahanmisi totaled just 32 points in the team’s first four outings, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
He was also 1-of-2 from the four-point line after going 0-for-5 previously and was averaging just 1.5 shots from three point range in four games. In the win over Titan Ultra, he was 4-of-8 from the same spot.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
