Reigning champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel welcomed one of its leaders back in action for the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup, Wednesday.
The 39-year-old rejoined the Gin Kings in Bacolor, Pampanga the morning of their clash with Rain or Shine as he has recovered from a knee injury.
“We just got Joe back this morning,” said head coach Tim Cone.
“He came up. He’s been battling a knee injury, and he arrived about 10 o’clock this morning.”
And he was immediately thrown into the fire upon his return. He subbed in with 4:08 remaining in the second quarter and played the entirety of it.
Devance never returned to the game after that. Instead, he watched his teammates eke out the 83-77 win. The Barangay then got back on track after that shocking defeat to Juami Tiongson and the Terrafirma Dyip last Friday.
It was the 6-foot-7 forward’s first game back since July 25, or since their Manila Clasico battle with the Magnolia Hotshots in Pasig.
“He’s not practiced with us for the past few weeks, so I think he was a little shocked when I put him into the game,” Cone said. “But he knows us, he knows me, he knows what we do. I’m not afraid to put him out there in any situation.”
Devance did not have any stat to his name, but the two-time Grand Slam coach felt satisfied with what he had seen from his long-time player.
“As I said, he hasn’t had any practice at all, and we weren’t sure what kind of shape he’s in. But we threw him out there for about four to five minutes, and he did really well,” the 63-year-old bench tactician said, as Devance was a plus-four while inside.
“You’re gonna see a lot more of him as the conference goes along.”
