KOREAN KT&G SQUAD NIPS WELCOAT

Devance proves worth, scores 35 in pre-season debut
Philippine Basketball Association website
Monday, 10 September 2007

Welcoat may really have found in Joe Devance the right player to build its team around on.

The top draft pick had a spectacular maiden showing with the Dragons although he missed two crucial free throws at endgame, costing them the game against the visiting KT&G team of Korea Monday night at The Arena in San Juan.

The Dragons suffered a 91-94 defeat which won't reflect in their win-loss record in the 2007 PBA pre-season tourney since the Korean team is a mere guest squad set to play five games.

Reinforced by imports Marquin Chandler and Robert Cummings, the Koreans will be up next against the Alaska Aces – the recent Fiesta Conference champions and defending titlists in this pre-season event. They play at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the same venue.

Devance came through with a splendid 35-point showing, only to spoil his night with the two missed charities with the Dragons staring at a 91-92 deficit and time down to 16 seconds.

The 6-foot-7 center-forward out of University of Texas at El Paso earlier banged away a three-pointer then scored from close range as the Dragons came within one with 37 seconds to go.

He then intercepted a pass by Hee Jung Joo to Chandler – the former Purefoods reinforcement – giving the Dragons the chance to win the game. Alas, he fouled up from the stripe.

The two teams figured in a close match with neither enjoying a double-digit spread.

The Dragons came out strong from the halftime huddle and led by eight points before settling for a 66-63 lead going into the payoff period.

KT&G trailed most of the second quarter but pulled even at 46-all at halftime as Hee Jong Yang completed a three-point play with time down to 36 seconds.

Devance led all scorers with 16 points in the opening half with Jay-R Reyes adding 10. Yang paced the Koreans with 11.

Welcoat took a 27-26 edge in the opening period on back-to-back baskets by Adonis Sta. Maria and Devance. (NC)

The scores:

KT&G 94 – Chandler 32, Yang 25, Cummings 16, Hwang 7, Eun 5, Lim 4, Yoo 4, Joo 1, Park 0, Lee 0.
Welcoat 91 – Devance 35, Reyes 18, Gelig 6, Lopez 6, Wainwright 6, Dulay 5, Arana 4. Sta. Maria 4, Mente 2.
Quarterscores: 26-27, 46-46, 63-66, 94-91.