In basketball, when you’re hot, you’re hot. But then there’s also Jerrick Ahanmisi hot. 

Ahamisi had only one shot attempt from inside the 3-point line (which he made) because he did most of his damage against the Terrafirma Dyip from far out. The 10th overall pick in the 2020 PBA Draft hit as many 4-pointers as the Dyip (four) and had more made 4-pointers than made 3-pointers and 2-point shots combined (three). 

The Magnolia Hotshots were coming off a tough six-point loss to the TNT Tropang Giga and while their 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup campaign was still far from over, another loss would have put them in a hole that could be tough to climb out of. A matchup against the winless Terrafirma may have been just what the doctor ordered, but with the way the Hotshots won, it’s definitely a confidence booster. 

Ahanmisi, though, does not lack confidence. The 4-pointer is like an amplifier for shooters like him who can ignite a run and lead a comeback with the flick of his wrist. A career 32.5 percent 3-point shooter in the PBA, the former Adamson Soaring Falcon has clearly been working on his game with each passing season and offseason, with great results coming in during the early parts of Year Four.  

PBA teams will eventually learn to adjust to Ahanmisi’s exploits from behind the 4-point line, but those changes can only mean that his Magnolia teammates will have more space to operate. The likes of Glen Robinson III (20 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists against the Dyip), Ian Sangalang (14 points and six rebounds against the Dyip), and Paul Lee (who had 13 points on two 3-pointers and one 4-pointer) benefitted the most from the gravity Ahanmisi drew so far. In fact, it was Lee who returned the favor on a couple of occasions by finding Ahanmisi in the right place at the right time. 

It goes without saying that Ahanmisi has earned more minutes with the Hotshots going forward, but he has to make himself useful even when his shots aren’t falling. The 26-year old has been careful with the ball (two assists and no turnovers in the win over Terrafirma) and has been solid on defense (two steals) against the Dyip) so building on those will make Ahanmisi more valuable for Magnolia on the court than when he’s off it. 

As PBA teams continue to adjust to life with a 4-pointer, Jerrick Ahanmisi has already taken advantage of it early into the season. The Magnolia Hotshots are happy to reap the benefits of Ahanmisi’s hot shooting because it will only open up opportunities for the rest of the squad and in turn, take the Hotshots to greater heights.