WHIPPING HIMSELF BACK TO SHAPE
After scoring 20 points in the first half, Derrick Caracter looked like a killer steal for GlobalPort.
Bringing in the former LA Laker after Calvin Warner had to go back to the United States to tend to some personal matters, the burly big man silently anchored the Batang Pier in the first two quarters as they kept themselves in step with NLEX on Sunday.
That was until Niño Canaleta caught fire in the second half.
“I thought he was Reggie Miller,” said the 6-foot-8 reinforcement. “When somebody is shooting that well, there’s only so much that you can do.”
Limited to just seven points in the second half, Caracter still managed to finish with 27 markers and 14 boards in GlobalPort’s 94-81 defeat against the Road Warriors.
“I tweaked my ankle a little bit,” he admitted. “But we got out of sync. I didn’t have too many touches in the second half. My teammates are still adjusting to me and I know we only have a short time to get some things done.”
Though defeated, Caracter knows that the changes have to start with him if the squad aspires to advance further in the playoffs.
“Probably I’ve got to lose some five pounds so I can dunk some balls instead of missing layups,” he said. “I’m just trying to be consistent, play hard, and do what I have to do.”
“We’re ready and we’ll do our best.” (RL)
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