Guiao overruled in Rain or Shine gamble on Ahanmisi

MANILA, Philippines -- Coach Yeng Guiao said selecting Fil-Nigerian guard Maverick Ahanmisi as the third overall pick on Sunday’s Gatorade PBA Rookie Draft was borne out of a collective decision among his coaching staff and the sons of Rain or Shine team owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que.

PBA draft analysts and experts were expecting the Elasto Painters to make former La Salle big man Norbert Torres or Chris Newsome to be their no. 3 pick this year, having been the top performers in the UAAP this past season.

READ: Rain or Shine pulls off stunner, picks Fil-Nigerian in PBA Draft

But on draft day, the decision to pick the six-foot guard out of the University of Minnesota threw everyone, including other PBA coaches out of their seats.

“Nakakagulat ba?” was Guiao’s initial response, when asked by sports scribes, why Rain or Shine decided to tap the cat-quick Ahanmisi over Torres.

Guiao initially had doubts on whether the 24-year-old Ahanmisi deserves to be the team’s third overall pick or not.

He added that he was actually looking at tapping either San Beda forward Art Dela Cruz or reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson in the first round.

But Ahanmisi, who helped Cafe France capture the PBA D-League Foundation Cup title recently at the expense of Hapee Toothpaste, was recommended highly by Guiao’s assistant coaches Caloy Garcia and Mike Buendia as well as Rain or Shine team owners.

“I thought he was a real legitimate first rounder, but to make him number three, I had doubts,” he said.

“Personally, I was looking at Art dela Cruz or Scottie Thompson, but he was highly recommended by coach Mike (Buendia), coach Caloy (Garcia), and the two sons of Boss Raymond (Yu),” explained Guiao.

“The coaching staff knows Maverick more than I do, although I've seen some of his games for Cafe France and in college.”

Guiao said since majority of the people he trusts gave him an affirmative response, he had no doubt that Ahanmisi deserves to play for Rain or Shine, where he’s expected to form a deadly backcourt tandem with superstar Paul Lee.

“I was overruled by the coaching staff. If they believe in him that much, I can allow myself to be overruled,” he said.

“And I saw in the games, he really has a high upside. It was a long, hard discussion. From number three down, it's really a toss-up, so before we got here, we really decided on it first.”

Outside Ahanmisi, Rain or Shine also selected Mapua shooting guard Josan Nimes in the 12th pick of the first round, before adding Adamson’s Don Trollano and Fil-American Simon Enciso in the next
round.