AFTER averaging 17 points and making some big shots down the stretch in both Barangay Ginebra’s wins in the PBA Governors’ Cup finals, Maverick Ahanmisi was perhaps – next to Justin Brownlee – the biggest missing piece in the Gin Kings’ 99-72 loss to TNT in Game 5 last Wednesday.
But as he walked out of the Smart Araneta Coliseum dugout, he didn’t look like a man who missed all of his seven shots and made just a single point in nearly 26 minutes of action in the blowout loss.
Instead, Ahanmisi still had that air of confidence in him, the good kind, as he credited the Tropang Giga for making the necessary adjustments while still knowing that this series is far from over.
“They made shots, we couldn’t. That’s the story of the game right there,” Ahanmisi said.
“For sure [they’ve prepared for me better]. That’s the story of the series. They beat us two games in a row to begin with. Obviously, we went to watch film and see what we can do to stop them. We beat them two in a row and they did the same thing now.”
READ: Chot warns TNT to brace for big Ginebra fightback in Game Six
That confidence from the Fil-Nigerian guard is certainly warranted as Ginebra looked dead in the water in the first two games of the series.
TNT seemingly had all the answers for the league’s most beloved ballclub, up until Ginebra turned the tide in Games 3 and 4 – with Ahanmisi starring in both of those victories.
The only difference is there will be no room for mistakes now for Ginebra this time around, but the knowledge that they’ve already beaten TNT in consecutive games is enough fuel for Ahanmisi when they enter a do-or-die Game 6 this Friday.
“You know, the runs and games like that, that’s what happens [in a finals series.] That’s what the finals is about, playing chess. At least the finals isn’t over, we still have a chance, we just have to win two in a row now,” he shared.
“That’s the atmosphere in the locker room now. We know it’s not over. We have to win two in a row, we beat them twice in a row, we still feel very confident that we can do that.”
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.
