PBA: Devance stepping up in the playoffs for the Mixers

Joe Devance (light) PBA IMAGE / NUKI SABIO

MANILA, Philippines — With the stakes higher in the playoffs, San Mig Coffee forward Joe Devance has brought his game to a new level.

Devance is playing a vital role in the Mixers’ postseason run — averaging 12.3 points per game from just a little over seven points per night in the elimination round.

“He (Devance) is a point forward in the strictest sense which allows us to have great flexibility. He’s showing all that in this playoff so far and has been a huge key to our success,” San Mig Coffee head coach Tim Cone.

“I’m just trying to do my little part in trying to help the team win,” said the 31-year-old Devance, who was named Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week.

But “little” just won’t describe Devance’s play as of late particularly during the Mixers’ 83-73 win over the Meralco Bolts in their semifinals opener Sunday night.

The six-foot-seven Devance unleashed a personal conference-best 17 points as San Mig Coffee moved two games away from booking its second straight PBA Governors’ Cup Finals appearance after falling short against Rain or Shine last year.

For Cone, there’s much more to Devance than just what his numbers show night in and night out.

“Joe does a lot more for us than what shows up in the boxscores. He handles the ball, can set up the offense and probably is our best player in terms of understanding our execution.”