On Wednesday, Marqus Blakely met two people with whom he shared much success not so long ago.
The do-it-all import got to meet coach Tim Cone and Joe Devance when his Blackwater Elite took on the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup action.
And that mini-reunion between the Grand Slam winners with San Mig Coffee made the three reminisce their heydays.
“We had such great times back in 2014 when we were trying to win that Grand Slam,” Cone recalled. “It was really, really an amazing year, that 2014, and Marqus was a big part of it.”
“Yeah, for sure, I mean, we had a lot of ups and downs and a lot of moments. Those are things we will never forget… Those are memories that we will have forever,” the 6-foot-5 Blakely said.
“I’ve played with a lot of good imports. And Marqus is top two, one or two, Justin (Brownlee), Marqus, and Denzel. Denzel (Bowles) is up there,” said Devance.
“Marqus is really special.”
The final buzzer sounded and the Elite fell, 93-101, absorbing their fourth straight defeat. Blakely, though, didn’t head straight to the dugout, since he and Devance exchanged jerseys.
Blakely now has three jerseys of his San Mig Coffee teammates. He had Marc Pingris’ Magnolia Hotshots uniform first, then got the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters kit of James Yap.
For Devance, he will put Blakely’s jersey in a special part of his hour.
“I have a few of my own jerseys framed in my house so I’ll frame his.”
