THEY probably are having a good-natured sibling rivalry going, but playing against each other during the Ginebra-Magnolia Clasico match last Sunday, brothers Maverick and Jerrick Ahanmisi said they had one of the most fun they ever had as PBA players.
It was the first time the two played against each other's team -- Maverick, 32, for Ginebra, and Derrick, 26, for Magnolia. The age gap did not require the young one to defer or show more respect to the older brother as both played their hearts out, Ginebra prevailing 87-77.
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For the brothers, it was a match they always dream would someday happen. The Ahanmisis were born in the US with a Nigerian father and a Filipino mother. Maverick was drafted third overall by Rain or Shine in 2015, and has played for Alaska and Converge before being traded to Ginebra.
On the other hand, Derrick was drafted 10th overall by Magnolia in 2021.
"Oh, it's always fun, it's what we dreamed of when we were kids, and now, it's pretty normal, and that's a blessing," Jerrick, an Adamson product, told SPIN.ph on Sunday night.
Mav weighed in: "It feels good to have a brother in the league, there's this competitive spirit. We grew up wanting to play against each other, and now we're experiencing it, professionally."
Both are glad they play for champion-caliber teams and Jerrick says he looks forward to a match-up against Mav again since he had to get revenge.
But it may take a lot of doing for Jerrick to get even. He had zero points during the game while Mav had 16. But scores did not matter, the experience was more important, said Jerrick.
Jerrick has score to settle
"There [aren't] a lot of people in the world that can experience this, and we're here, hopefully, we face each other again in the playoffs since he drew first blood on me," he said.
And while he's dead set on his Ginebra duties, he's happy to watch his brother grow in the guidance of Hotshots vets like Paul Lee.
"The people on that side, they take care of him, people like Paul, Paul was my mentor, I know he looks after him and learns from him," he added.
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