In crucial games, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings don’t just let take Stanley Pringle to take care of everything on the floor.
This time, Joe Devance took care of business as the Gin Kings got off to a dominant start.
“In a big moment like this, we went to Joe. We trust him to make those good decisions,” said coach Tim Cone on Sunday evening.
The great showing of the 6’7” Devance complemented the big game of Pringle towards the end of the contest, allowing the Gin Kings to post a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five semifinals series with the Meralco Bolts.
The 38-year-old small forward from Hawaii made his presence felt in the middle of the second period, efforts that led to the Gin Kings’ 91-84 triumph in Game 3 of the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup semis at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Pampanga.
A layup and a charity from Devance in the last 5:34 of the second period propelled to a 42-26 cushion.
It was an advantage which the Gin Kings worked hard to protect for the rest of the game.
“We trust him to make those good decisions. He did these things tonight and he was spectacular,” added Cone of Devance.
Ginebra is now close to the finals, needing just one more win in the best-of-five series to make the All-Filipino Finals.
The Gin Kings are looking forward to a seat in the Philippine Cup for the first time since 2017.
As Ginebra took charge of the shaded lanes, they went on to outscore Meralco, 46-28.
The Gin Kings will try to wrap it up in Game 4 on Wednesday at 3:45 p.m.