Joe Devance only had six points and six rebounds but his influence in Barangay Ginebra’s win over Star in Game 3 of the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals goes beyond his scores.
Devance returned after missing three games due to an injury (plantar fasciitis) in his left foot and though, his injury is still causing very much trouble for him, the pain didn’t keep him from showing up for the Gin Kings when he was needed most.
The 34-year-old Devance made his first presence in the semis when he was inserted at the 4:36 mark of the first quarter. And 34 seconds later, Devance proclaimed his return with a jumper that pushed the Gin Kings’ lead to 11, 15-4.
“I don’t know if I inspired them. I just think they just came out and played with a little bit more desperation and a little bit inspired basketball,” said Devance, who played for 18 minutes and 34 seconds but sat out the fourth quarter.
“My foot hurts. It’s in pain. It’s started to come back in the third quarter. In the fourth, it’s really painful. If coach was gonna call I was gonna try to suck it up so it’s a good thing he really didn’t need me because I think around the three-minute mark I told the trainer that my foot’s already hurting,” Devance recalled.
Ginebra head coach Tim Cone and the break of the Gin Kings knew how important Devance’s role was in the much-needed victory.
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