Import sub arrives for Globalport five

MANILA, Philippines - Calvin (C. J.) Leslie of North Carolina State arrived the other night to play for Globalport in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup starting Jan. 27 as replacement for Rod Benson who measured 1/8 inch over the 6-9 ceiling set for the top eight teams, including the Batang Pier, in the previous conference.

Benson, however, is eligible to play for the four low-ranked teams allowed to recruit an import with no height limit. For a while, Barako Bull showed interest in checking him out. Blackwater appears to be content with 7-1 Chris Charles as are NLEX with 6-8 Al Thornton and Kia with 7-4 Peter John Ramos. But Benson didn’t hang around to wait for an offer and left last Wednesday.

Barako Bull’s first option 7-1 Solomon Alabi arrived last Saturday and attended his first full practice with the Energy yesterday. Alabi, 26, was the Dallas Mavericks second round pick in the 2010 NBA draft and played two seasons with the Toronto Raptors. Energy coach Koy Banal said he toyed with the idea of keeping Benson on standby in case Alabi fails to impress.

Globalport and Barako Bull were recently involved in a trade with the Batang Pier taking in Denok Miranda and a future second round pick and the Energy enlisting Sol Mercado.

Globalport PBA Governor Erick Arejola said Benson was measured 6-9 1/8, making him ineligible as the Batang Pier’s import. Arejola added that Globalport will continue to be coached by Eric Gonzales in the Commissioner’s Cup. Gonzales took over from Pido Jarencio on an interim basis with two games left in Globalport’s schedule in the Philippine Cup eliminations last November. Gonzales was an assistant in Banal’s coaching staff when they were with PSBA.

With Benson ruled ineligible for Globalport, Arejola said Leslie was the next choice. Leslie, 23, is a 6-9, 210-pound center who once signed a partially guaranteed contract with the New York Knicks, earning $490,180, but never got to play for the NBA team. He is well-known for playing alongside NBA star John Wall in two seasons with the Word of God Christian Academy high school varsity.

Leslie, listed 6-9 in unofficial measurements, should fall within the height limit for Globalport. He averaged in double figure points in three straight seasons with North Carolina State from 11.0 to 14.7 to 15.1. As a junior in 2012-13, he shot 52.2 percent from the floor, 33.8 percent from beyond the arc and 61.2 percent from the stripe. Leslie also grabbed 7.4 rebounds a contest. This season, he averaged 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds with Anyang in the KBL.

Leslie considered applying for the NBA draft after playing his freshman collegiate season but ended up staying with the Wolfpack. Varsity coach Mark Gottfried convinced Leslie to forego his application. Leslie didn’t play his fourth year of eligibility at North Carolina State but wasn’t drafted in the NBA. One of Leslie’s varsity teammates Richard Howell will return as Talk ‘N’ Text’s import in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Benson, 30, was brought in by Globalport after negotiations to sign up either Derrick Caracter or Hakim Warrick broke down. Both Caracter and Warrick are NBA veterans. Benson was undrafted in the NBA but boasts of being the all-time leading rebounder in the NBA D-League. He has played in France, Puerto Rico, South Korea and Taiwan as an import. It was in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) where Benson made his mark with four Finals appearances and two championships under his belt. Benson powered Mobis Phoebus to back-to-back KBL titles and was named KBL Center of the Year in 2013-14.

Despite his glowing credentials, Benson was cut by Phoebus before the 2014-15 season opened due to alleged “insubordination.” He was accused of refusing to follow his coach’s instructions, using profanity, demanding a raise and reporting to camp 30 pounds overweight. From Korea, Benson played for Bank of Taiwan in the Taiwan Basketball League but his stint was forgettable with four losses in five outings. Last Jan. 3, Benson went 0-of-7 from the line and 6-of-16 from the field as Bank of Taiwan lost to Pure Youth, 88-82.

Benson played four years with the University of California at Berkeley varsity. His teammates included NBA veteran Leon Powe and NBA legend Jamaal Wilkes’ sons Jordan and Omar. As a junior in 2004-05, Benson averaged 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds, shooting 54.3 percent from the field. But as a senior, his numbers dropped to 4.9 points and 3.8 boards. He had tryouts with Memphis, New Jersey, Toronto, Houston, the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah but couldn’t make the grade in the NBA.

Benson has been featured in Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine for his entrepreneurial ventures and blogs. He owns the apparel line Boom Tho! which is patronized by NBA players Blake Griffin, Channing Frye and Eric Bledsoe.

Meanwhile, Meralco coach Norman Black and team manager Paolo Trillo left for the US last Thursday to scout for an import in the NBA D-League Showcase in Santa Cruz, California. Trillo said the Bolts are “shoring up things” with their import. It is widely known that Meralco is pursuing Michael Dunigan who played for Air21 in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup.