PBA: Joe Devance’s mission is to slow down Allen Durham

By Waylon Galvez

For two hours before the start of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel practice Thursday, Joe Devance took shots from around the shaded lane.

From pull-up jumpers to fade-aways and floaters, the veteran forward focused on getting his rhythm back after missing majority of the team’s campaign in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

“Talagang pang-finals ‘yan si Joe eh,” said Ginebra playmaker LA Tenorio, who was watching from the other side of the court while prepping for his own workout before the team’s scrimmage at The Upper Deck in Pasig City.

It was the team’s first this year after a three-day holiday break.
Ginebra will face Meralco for the third time in four years in the Governors’ Cup Finals starting Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. In 2016 and 2017, the Kings defeated the Bolts both times.

Devance suffered a knee injury at the start of this conference, and his absence limited Ginebra mentor Tim Cone to a frontline rotation of Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter and seldom-used players Prince Caperal and Raymond Aguilar.

Over the past two months, Devance worked his way back ‘health wise’ and is now focusing on regaining his ‘game shape’.

“I’m getting there. I don’t know how many percent but I’m doing a lot better than two weeks ago, three weeks ago, a month ago,” he said.

“I’ve been doing two-a-day for like the last month so last week was actually really, really tough. I had no legs, but now I’m going to try to slow it down a bit and just really focus on getting up shots, hoping by Game 1.”
Devance said he is ready for the series.

“I don’t know how many minutes I’ll play, or if I’ll play at all. It’s still up to coach Tim. I’ve been practicing for over a month already. It’s about me having game rhythm… having game rhythm is different from just practice and stuffs like that,” he said.

Devance is one of the versatile players in the league with his ability to play multiple positions both offensively and defensively a big plus.

In this finals showdown against the Bolts, Devance said his main priority is to defend Meralco import Allen Durham.

“My focus right now is really guarding Durham, guarding the bigs,” he said as he eyes his 10th league championship and fourth with the team.

“If I have to switch on the guards, really just getting my quickness and my laterals back. But my focus is to really try my best to stop… not really stop Durham ‘coz that can’t be done. But at least slow him down a bit.”

Devance expects an exciting finals series – similar to the first two.

“It’s kind of cool how we kind of built this rivalry up in the finals. It feels great to be back here. I’m sure it’s going to be an epic finals series,” he said.

Source: Manila Bulletin