TAKING front and center in their last two victories in Season 80 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) that have helped their cause in fortifying their push for a top-four finish, Adamson University’s Jerrick Ahanmisi was recently hailed as the league’s player of the week.
Averaged 18.5 points in their victories over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers and National University (NU) Bulldogs, in that order, last week, Ahanmisi has put the Soaring Falcons (8-4), currently at solo third place, in a good position to advance to the next round.
Ahanmisi, brother of Philippine Basketball Association player Maverick of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, had 21 points, including burying some crucial shots down the stretch, in their 75-70 win over UST last Wednesday.
He then followed it up with a team-high 16-point performance, padded by 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc, four days later to beat NU, 90-77.
The twin victories allowed the Franz Pumaren-coached Falcons to stay within striking distance of the league-leaders Ateneo Blue Eagles (11-0) and De La Salle Green Archers (10-2) while also creating some separation from fourth-running teams Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines, which are both sporting identical records of 5-6.
While they are surging anew in the ongoing tournament, Ahanmisi underscored that the learning continues for them and that they should not be satisfied where they are right now.
“We must continue learning and improving our game. There is still much to be played and we have to be ready,” the sophomore player said.
On his way to winning the weekly award given by the UAAP press corps, Ahanmisi beat out UP’s Paul Desiderio, who drained a game-winning triple over FEU on Sunday, La Salle high-flyer Ricci Rivero and steady Ateneo veteran Thirdy Ravena.
The UAAP is on a break today to give way to All Saints’ Day and returns on Saturday. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
