“We should have just stayed home. We just didn’t play hard and play together,” said Joe Devance after San Mig Coffee's loss to Petron. Jerome Ascano
SAN Mig Coffee’s 25-point blowout at the hands of Petron certainly brought back recent Christmas memories for big man Joe Devance.
Referring to the Mixers’ 98-73 loss to the Boosters Wednesday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup as the worst under coach Tim Cone, Devance also can’t help but recalled how the defending champions were routed on Christmas Day by Rain or Shine, 98-72, in Game 3 of the Philippine Cup semifinals series.
“This might be the worst game of our lives under coach Tim Cone. It was just like the Christmas Day game against Rain or Shine. It’s pretty embarrassing,” said an obviously frustrated Devance when Spin.phtalked to him shortly after the match at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Mixers eventually lost the All-Filipino series to the Elasto Painters in six games.
Devance added, “We should have just stayed home. We just didn’t play hard and play together.”
The Fil-Am center said a lot of factors contributed to the team’s lackluster performance against an up-and-running Petron side, which drew 26 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks from import Renaldo Balkman.
“We’re still adjusting to him (import Matt Rogers). And he’s still adjusting to us and how the fouls are called. It may take a while for him to adjust,” explained Devance, who finished with seven points, six rebounds, and four assists in 29 minutes of play.
The reigning champions are also playing their second game with new recruits Alex Mallari, whom they acquired from the Boosters via a multiple team trade recently, along with rookie guard Lester Alvarez and veteran forward Leo Najorda.
“We’ve got four or five new players in the team who are trying to learn the triangle (offense). So it’s hard. They need to learn fast,” he said.
San Mig will have an opportunity to regroup as the team leaves for Subic for a two-day team building.
The Mixers get back to action on Feb 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena when they play the Elasto Painters.
Follow the writer on Twitter: @richava
source: http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/devance-calls-embarrasing-san-migs-25-point-rout-against-petron-v02#.URwrHvxHs9Y.twitter
