Three nights ago, Joe Devance was a no-show for the Barangay Ginebra in their match against the Blackwater Elite in Biñan, Laguna. The 6-foot-7 forward, as it turned out, was having health issues — a throat infection to be exact.
“I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t swallow. I was basically just in the hospital, laying there,” recalled Devance. “I was in the hospital for four days. I didn’t practice one time this whole week, so I didn’t know how I was going to play [Sunday].
“I didn’t know how my wind was going to be.”
But despite those doubts, the versatile 35-year-old forward decided to suited up for the Gin Kings on Sunday night against the Meralco Bolts. And he made up for his absence last Friday, much to the joy of the Barangay.
Devance made it known he had returned, sinking a tough lay-up off a broken play with 41 ticks to go to highlight Ginebra’s 6-0 burst that sent them up 90-86 with 30 seconds left to play, a lead they held on to en route to their 90-89 triumph.
“We could’ve done more on the boards… We lost the game on an offensive rebound by Devance,” admitted Meralco head coach Norman Black, pointing out that it was Devance’s bucket that turned the game around.
“Those are breaks of the game.”
But the nine-year veteran doesn’t want the limelight only on him. The Fil-American gave a lot of credit to teammate Japeth Aguilar, who was the one who tipped LA Tenorio’s missed trey his way, which led to the big bucket.
“Japeth [Aguilar] got the tip. He looked at me — he knew he’s [going to] tip it to me, and everything happened so fast. I made the shot, but it was really Jap’s play,” iterated Devance, who finished with six markers, six caroms, and six dimes.
“He was the one who attacked the offensive glass and he was able to tip it to me.”
After Sunday’s exhilarating win, the Barangay have zeroed in on a top two finish for the conference playoffs. With that, Devance hopes for nothing but the best for his side, as they aim to make a deep run.
“Hopefully we’re hitting our stride. We grew in this conference,” said the seven-time champion. “But I’m hoping we haven’t hit our stride — yet. That’s what I’m hoping. Because in the past, we kind of struggle in the eliminations.
“Then when playoffs come, that’s when we were hitting our stride.”
