By REYNALD MAGALLON
For Maverick Ahanmisi, joining Ginebra is a fresh start in his career.
And that signified his choice of picking 00 as his new jersey number as he donned the Kings’ bright red threads for the first time during the PBA Media Day on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at the One Esplanade in Pasay City.
“It was like starting from scratch for me, a fresh start,” shared Ahanmisi who used to wear No. 13 back in his previous teams but chose not to to pay his respect to the number’s most iconic owner in Jayjay Helterbrand.
He shared that he also considered wearing No. 30 but also scrapped the idea as it was also iconic for Ginebra fans being the jersey number owned by another Ginebra great in Erik Menk.
The decision to change jersey numbers, however, hardly mattered for Ahanmisi the same way that it was also a no brainer for him to join the Kings who he admittedly pursued during the free agency.
“As much as you enjoy playing against Ginebra you also want to be on that side. I pursued Ginebra as well as they got me so I think it was just a great fit. Like I said, I just feel blessed that I am in this position right now,” said Ahanmisi.
The 32-year-old combo guard signed with Ginebra in the offseason when he became an unrestricted free agent after talks of possible extension with former team Converge fell out.
At the Kings, Ahanmisi is joining a stacked team although expected to provide the scoring punch from the backcourt following the injury to Jeremiah Gray and the concerns of the fitness of the comebacking LA Tenorio.
Ahanmisi, however, vowed to provide whatever role Ginebra is given him.
“This team is stacked so I’m just here to help an already great team just anywhere I can whether that be rebounds, leadership, I mean every facet they have it all covered but I’m here for a reason so I’m just trying to win just as everybody else,” said Ahanmisi.