GlobalPort taps ex-Laker Caracter for Warner

MANILA, Philippines -- The GlobalPort Batang Pier will parade a new import for the third time this conference as ex-Los Angeles Lakers Derrick Caracter flew in to replace Calvin Warner.

Warner, who led the league in rebounding and no. 2 in blocks, in his brief stint with the Batang Pier, had to leave for for the United States to attend to personal and family matters according to both imports' agent Sheryl Reyes. 

Warner, though, should be back for the Governors' Cup as he is a shade under the 6-5 limit. 

"He (Calvin) is being considered to be their (Batang Pier) reinforcement if the team makes it to the top eight," Reyes told Philstar.com. 

Caracter, a former second round pick of the LA Lakers, has a big vacuum to fill in. Warner led Batang Pier to 2-2 record while averaging 20.8 points, 23.3 rebounds 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 3 shot blocks despite being one of the smallest imports this conference. 

Listed as 6'9" in the NBA, Caracter was selected 58th overall by the Lakers in the 2010 Rookie Draft. As a rookie, he averaged 2 points and 1 rebound in 5.2 minutes of action for the Lakers in 2010-11 season. He played 42 games before he drifted to the NBA D-League after he tore his left lateral meniscus. 

The 26-yeard old big man went on to play in China, Israel, Poland, Llithuania and Brazil before coming here. 

Caracter arrived early Tuesday morning and will have five days to acclimatize himself with GlobalPort's system before making his league debut on Sunday against another ex-NBA player Al Thornton and the NLEX Road Warriors.