Maverick Ahanmisi. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Maverick Ahanmisi believes he is currently playing the best basketball of his career due in large part to Converge coach Aldin Ayo.
The FiberXers prevailed over San Miguel, 107-103, with Ahanmisi making one of the biggest plays of the game—a three-point basket from the right wing to give his team a 102-98 lead with 1:40 remaining.
“Definitely,” said Ahanmisi when asked if he’s playing his best season yet. “It is what it is and I credit that to coach Aldin he’s really put the confidence in me to play this way. He’s put the leadership role for me and I got guys like Alec Stockton playing great too.”
Ahanmisi’s clutch shot helped Converge end San Miguel’s unbeaten run of five games.
“I put this all on the coaching staff and the players. hey give me the confidence to take those shots and it helps that you have a coach backing you up all the time to take those big moments so I don’t really feel the pressure in those moments,” said Ahanmisi at Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
Facing a gargantuan task in toppling juggernaut San Miguel, the 6-foot-1 Ahanmisi came up big with 15 points and six rebounds.
Ahanmisi is averaging a career-best 18.3 points on top of 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in six games this season while coming off the bench.
“I credit him big. Everybody’s been asking me lately why I’ve been playing the way I do and I credit that to him (Ayo) honestly. From all the injuries that I’ve sustained, he was really patient with me. He allows me to heal when I need to heal. Like I said, he trusts me enough to be a pro by myself and work on my body.”
Thanks to the former Gilas cager’s high-altitude effort, Converge is now tied at the second seed with TNT and San Miguel with a 5-1 record. Commissioners’ Cup champion Ginebra stand alone at the top with three wins and zero losses.