Player of the Week Dec 13 to 19
THE continuing evolution of Joe Devance’s game keeps on working wonders for Alaska.
That is why when the southpaw forward displayed his multi-faceted game in two crucial outings for
the period Dec. 13-19, the Aces found themselves well on track to at least going deeper in the
2010-2011 PBA Philippine Cup.
Devance became the first two-time honoree of the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week this young
season after first helping Alaska formally clinch a playoff spot and then boosting it to a
rip-roaring headstart in the quarterfinals duel against a very formidable foe.
In those two games, the 28-year-old averaged 21.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 blocked
shots per game, prodding no less than grizzled mentor Tim Cone to heap praises on the man the
scribes initially cited for the period Oct. 11-17.
“No one has ever doubted his physical gifts, but what has taken him to the next level has been his
improvement in the mental side of the game,” said Cone.
“He’s reading defenses and his teammates with aplomb, and he’s able to look at the game and
decide which part of his game he can emphasize to help the team, whether it is by scoring or
rebounding or passing.”
Devance’s current overall averages bear Cone out.
The man acquired from Welcoat prior to the 2008 season is third in the conference overall in points
(19.9), eighth in rebounds (9.0), fifth in blocked shots (1.3) and, more astounding for a 6-foot-7
cager, is tops in three-point shooting (47.6 percent) to go with 3.4 assists per outing.
“He’s by far the most versatile player in the league. He’s match-up hell for the other
teams!” insisted Cone.
Devance beat out the likes of Talk N Text’s Ali Peek and San Miguel Beer’s Arwind Santos after
notching 12 points and nine rebounds in a cruising 86-78 win over Powerade last Wednesday that
secured for Alaska a quarterfinals seat.
He then went out to establish a new career-high of 30 points in a 104-101 escape over Barangay
Ginebra at the start of their best-of-three duel last Friday.
The Aces now have two chances of moving on to the semifinals and the likes of Cyrus Baguio, LA
Tenorio, Sonny Thoss and Tony de la Cruz are expected to play crucial roles.
Yet the biggest part, in almost all the major categories, is projected to come from Devance. (NC)
Player Of The Week
