The last time Ginebra guard Maverick Ahanmisi played in a PBA Finals, he was still donning a Rain or Shine jersey.
Maverick Ahanmisi has not reached a PBA finals since helping Rain or Shine win the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.
Ahanmisi is returning to the league’s grandest stage, this time with Ginebra, which hammered out a narrow 102-99 victory over San Miguel in Game 6 of the Governors’ Cup semifinals on Sunday, Oct. 20.
The Gin Kings guard could not help but feel excited.
“It’s been a while, but [I'm] definitely excited to be back in the finals. It’s been a long time coming, but I’m just glad we made it here,” said Ahanmisi shortly after the match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
In the finals-clinching win, Ahanmisi took centerstage as he finished with a team-high 25 points, including 16 in the first 24 minutes of action.
It was not just him, though.
Justin Brownlee whipped his magic anew, nailing the go-ahead three-pointer over Beermen eight-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo after the jump ball with 1:47 left to play.
Brownlee finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks in a game added to his growing list of clutch performances.
Japeth Aguilar added 20 points, six rebounds and a block for Ginebra, which will take on reigning titlist TNT in the best-of-seven finals beginning on Oct. 27.
[ALSO READ: TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson gives props to conquered semis foe Rain or Shine]
“It was a tough series, tough playoffs so far, but I’m glad we stepped together and grinded it out to make it here. But the job’s not done yet, we’ll see what we can do in the finals,” said Ahanmisi.
San Miguel actually had a chance to steal the match. But as time wound down, the Beermen foiled three shots from the three-point line.
Reinforcement EJ Anosike tried to do everything he could for San Miguel as he churned out 30 points, nine rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block, but these numbers were not enough.
Fajardo turned in 22 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block, while Marcio Lassiter put up 16 points in a losing cause.
CJay Perez chipped in 13 points, six rebounds, eight assist, and three steals.
[ALSO READ: It’s CJay, not CJ: Perez shares story behind his name]
The Scores:
GINEBRA 102 – Ahanmisi 25, Brownlee 21, J.Aguilar 20, Abarrientos 16, Thommpson 10, Cu 7, Holt 3, mariano 0, Adamos 0
SAN MIGUEL 99 – Anosike 30, Fajardo 22, Lassiter 16, Perez 13, Cruz 8, Trollano 8, Manuel 2, Romeo 0, Ross 0
Quarterscores: 23-27, 46-49, 76-75, 102-99