Dealing with Joe Devance’s retirement would’ve been easier for Tim Cone had his long-time trustee accepted the offer to join the Ginebra coaching staff.
The league’s most accomplished mentor disclosed that he asked the 40-year-old to become one of his deputies in light of his decision to hang up his kicks for good, but the decorated forward would want to explore other options.
Devance on Wednesday announced that he’s calling it quits, marking the end of a career that lasted 16 seasons and yielded 12 championships — all of which he won with, of course, Cone, the owner of a record 23 titles.
“I offered him a place in the coaching staff,” he said during the league’s special Media Day, Thursday at the Novotel Manila Araneta City.
“But he decided he wanted to explore possibilities that he may have in the United States.”
Cone said that he won’t be surprised anymore if Devance will be able to land a coaching gig sooner. After all, the top overall pick of Welcoat in the 2007 Rookie Draft was his on-court extension for so long — 14 years, to be exact.
Besides, the Fil-Am forward has been indoctrinated into coaching. He was part of Cone’s staff that steered Gilas Pilipinas to the gold medal of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila via dominant sweep.
“He’s there now [in the US] doing that, I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear him coaching somewhere,” he said.
“We’ll see what he does with that.”
But definitely, Cone would want Devance to be coaching alongside him. And if ever he decides to come back, there’s a spot waiting for him.
“He’s got a welcome place back with us,” he said. “We understand and know his value, and we certainly love to have him back any time that he’s ready to come back.
“But right now, he’s just exploring his chances in the States.”
