Adamson’s Ahanmisi shines in UAAP debut

Adamson’s Jerrick Ahanmisi goes for an uncontested layup against University of the Philippines during the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It was a rousing UAAP debut for Jerrick Ahanmisi.

Ahanmisi, the 18-year-old guard, announced his entry in style for Adamson, waxing hot in the third quarter, where he fired 13 of his 28 points to lead the Falcons to a 104-85 win over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday.

“I just went out there and listened to what my coaches said. I just did everything I could do for my team,” said Ahanmisi, who scored the most points by a rookie in his debut since the league’s official statistics provider Imperium started keeping track of numbers in 2003.

Ahanmisi went on a shooting spree from beyond the arc, going 6-of-7 from rainbow country, while the Soaring Falcons shot 13-of-19 as a whole. He also had six rebounds in the victory.

Despite coming into his own in his first UAAP game, the Fil-Nigerian guard made it clear that he’s just following his head coach Franz Pumaren’s system and refused to be called as one of the team’s new go-to guys.

“I’m just doing whatever my coaches tell me to do. Whatever they tell me to do, that’s the role I’m going to play for my team,” he said.

All in all, Ahanmisi was elated that all of his hardwork immediately showed in his first dip in the UAAP.

“I’m happy it paid off,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to the next games. I’m just gonna play as hard as I can every game.”/rga