CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur — Jerrick Ahanmisi now has his own PBA Obstacle Challenge title after winning one in the PBA Season 50 All-Star side events, Friday.
The Terrafirma gunner emerged victorious in the contest among guards after clocking in a quick 24.4 seconds in the Final, leaving fans — and even the competitors — inside the Candon City Arena here in awe of his performance.
He bested TNT star Rey Nambatac, rookies Dalph Panopio and Juan Gomez de Liano of Blackwater and Converge, respectively, Titan Ultra playmaker Fran Yu, and San Miguel’s Juami Tiongson in the title round to snare the gold.
With this, the Ahanmisi household now has three Obstacle Challenge crowns after his ‘kuya’ Maverick won it in back-to-back fashion in 2016 and 2017.
(C) PBA Images
“It feels good. Now, both of our names are marked in history. Hopefully, the league remembers that for a long time,” said the 28-year-old Jerrick.
The younger Ahanmisi outlasted Felix Lemetti of Rain or Shine to reach the Finals first, with Nambatac coming in next by downing Meralco’s CJ Cansino.
Yu made the outside shot first to oust Jerom Lastimosa of Magnolia to advance. Gomez de Liano rolled past Phoenix’s Ef Escandor, then came Tiongson with a calm and collected showing to eliminate RJ Abarrientos of Barangay Ginebra.
Panopio then went on to complete the six-man cast by beating Robert Bolick of NLEX, who flunked his layup midway through the course that hurt his chances.
But Ahanmisi would go on to dictate the pace when he opened the finale strongly, clocking in the aforementioned time, which proved to be too difficult for Nambatac, Yu, Gomez de Liano, Tiongson, and Panopio to overcome.
Not only did Ahanmisi secure the plaque, but the Adamson University product will also be going back home with P30,000 in the bag.
