Storied has been the partnership of coach Tim Cone and Joe Devance.
So, it won’t definitely be easy for the Barangay GInebra mentor from here on out following the 40-year-old’s decision to finally call it quits on Wednesday.
“I hoped Joe would be 32 years old forever and play for me forever,” lamented Cone in a heartfelt statement.
“I feel naked coaching without him.”
It all began in 2008, when the 6-foot-7 forward was traded by Welcoat to Alaska after playing his rookie season with the club now known as Rain or Shine.
The rest, as they say, is history. Devance and Cone went on to win a total of 12 PBA championships together — all of the former’s titles were with his coach.
Six were with the Kings, the last of which was the 2022 Governors’ Cup.
Five were with San Mig Coffee, which, of course, included a Grand Slam in 2014 that hasn’t been replicated by any team since.
The one other title was with the Aces, their first together when they ruled the 2010 Fiesta Conference that incidentally was Cone’s last with the team.
Cone trusts Devance so much that he included the latter in his staff that led Gilas Pilipinas to the gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
For the 64-year-old, what the former top overall pick achieved in his career was thanks not just to his skill, but his leadership as well.
“Joe had the unique understanding of how powerful relationships are in basketball,” he offered, “and through his relationships, he was able to mold and motivate his teammates and make them better.
“He was a great teacher and team builder, not to mention he was an incredibly skilled big man who could play any position, including point guard.”
But Devance is really more than just a player of his.
“Mostly, he was my friend and a great father to his children and a compassionate teammate,” said Cone. “Truly, truly one of the great ones and one of the most loved players of all time.
“Anybody who played with him will miss him.”
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