In just his rookie year, 6-foot-6 bruiser Germy Mahinay has already developed a reputation for being an enforcer. Besides being physical, the 20-year-old is not afraid to talk a little trash as well.
And Ateneo rookie Angelo Kouame felt it keenly.
Though Kouame towered Mahinay by a good four inches, Mahinay did not back down as he tried to psych out the Ivorian. Kouame thinks that Mahinay sometimes goes out of hand, though.
“It’s nothing serious. I was just telling him that he doesn’t need to do that,” shared the 19-year-old.
Kouame still ended up with 22 points on 18-of-13 shooting with 10 rebounds and three blocks, to lead Ateneo’s 102-62 rout of UST. On the other hand, Mahinay tallied seven rebounds and six points in 28 minutes of game time.
“Siyempre, ‘di natin siya matatapatan sa laki niya,” Mahinay said. “Kaya ginawa ko kanina, hindi naman extend konting physical lang, larong Pinoy.
“Tayong Pinoy, hindi naman kalakihan tyaka import naman siya.”
Fortunately, Kouame and Mahinay hold no grudges against one another. For them, it’s all part of the game.
“For me it doesn’t really matter, it’s really part of the game. He just has to do what he has to do to get the ball back,” Kouame admitted.
“It’s really tough playing against him.”
“Okay lang naman kasi sa basketball, hindi mo maiiwasang masaktan ka at normal lang naman sa akin masaktan,” the product of San Beda High School said.
“Hindi ko naman pine-personal ‘yun.”
Moreover, Mahinay needs to be physical in order to survive the UAAP jungle.
“Simpleng gulang lang.”
