JIO Jalalon shook hands with Jerrick Ahanmisi as the final buzzer sounded in TNT’s hard-earned win over Terrafirma last Friday in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup.
Jalalon and Ahanmisi were former teammates at Magnolia and Jalalon is glad to see Ahanmisi show what he can do when given the playing time.
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Before Terrafirma’s game against TNT, Ahanmisi is the seventh leading scorer in the league through five games with the Dyip, averaging 18.2 points. Ahanmisi is also one of the most proficient shooters at No. 5 in average three-points made at 2.2, and is one of the leaders in four pointers made with four.
During the entire 49th Season, his last with Magnolia, Ahanmisi averaged 6.8 points through 33 games.
“Nakakatuwa si Jerrick,” said Jalalon about his ex-Magnolia teammate. “Hindi siya masyadong nakakalaro (sa Magnolia).
“Sabi ko nga sa kanya, ‘I’m happy for you, bro’ dahil nagagawa na niya ‘yung gusto niya. ‘Yun naman talaga siya eh, magaling.”
Both players parted ways with Magnolia through trades.
Jalalon and Abu Tratter were part of the deal that brought Zavier Lucero from NorthPort to Magnolia last July 2024, while Ahanmisi and a future draft pick were shipped by the Hotshots to Terrafirma for Javi Gomez de Liaño.
Jalalon said that with Ahanmisi around, Terrafirma has become a very different team, and it showed in their recent ballgame where the Dyip led by as many as 16 points before falling to the Tropang 5G in overtime, 109-95.
“Kinakausap ko siya na huwag kunin ‘yung bola kasi pe-pressurin ko,” said Jalalon. “Iba na ‘yung Terrafirma ngayon, hindi na tulad ng dati.
"‘Yung mindset ko, gusto ko magbigay ng energy sa team ko para makabalik kami,” Jalalon added.
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