Break glass in emergency: Joe Devance, 42, unretires as Ginebra faces depth woes
MANILA, Philippines – In a stunning development, Ginebra legend Joe Devance is dusting off the jersey cobwebs to play for the highly-depleted Gin Kings ahead of their 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals opener against Meralco on Thursday, September 26.
The 42-year-old enforcer broke the news himself on Instagram with a PBA memo photo, showing he was signed just in time before the playoffs cutoff.
Ginebra continues to face a deluge of injuries to key center-forwards like Isaac Go, Jamie Malonzo, and possibly even star import Justin Brownlee
Although the Gin Kings still have able big men like Ben Adamos and Raymond Aguilar, few players know their system better than Devance, a 12-time PBA champion and 8-time All-Star who won 11 of his titles under head coach Tim Cone.
The 6-foot-7 bruiser last played for Ginebra in 2022, ending his 16-year career on a high after helping win the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup championship.
The Gin Kings continue to be a force in the import-laden conference, appearing in five of the last six Governors’ Cup finals and winning four out of five from 2015 to 2022. – Rappler.com