Jerrick Ahanmisi has provided the spark that the Adamson University needed in their push for a strong finish in the elimination round of the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament.
“I think we just knew as a team that we had to win, because it’s getting close to the end of the second round, and we can’t afford to lose anymore games in order for us to be at the top of the standings,” said the Adamson sophomore, “The coaches just help me out a lot, and I just listen.”
The Filipino-Nigerian guard has averaged 18.5 points per game over the past two games for the Soaring Falcon, capturing the Chooks-to-Go-SMART/UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week.
Ahanmisi finished with 21 points, including crucial shots in the end game to lead the Soaring Falcons to a 75-70 win over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on Wednesday. He again spearheaded his team to another victory, this time at the hands of National University Bulldogs, 90-77, after tallying 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from threes.
With Ahanmisi’s performance, Adamson remain in contention for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four with an 8-4 record, but two games behind second-place La Salle (10-2).
But Ahanmisi said it is still a learning process for him and the Falcons especially, after the close win over UST, and the win over NU that saw the Falcons lose a 28-point lead in the game.
“I think we should learn from that. We should have not let them come back like that,” said Ahanmisi, referring to the win over NU.
Ahanmisi beat Paul Desiderio of University of the Philippines, Ricci Rivero of La Salle, and Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo for the weekly plum given by sportswriters from broadsheets, tabloids, and online publications.
