Caracter test for Globalport

MANILA, Philippines - Globalport makes a last-ditch attempt to sail safely into the playoffs by bringing in former Los Angeles Laker Derrick Caracter for the Batang Pier’s last three games in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations but it’s a weighty test of character for the 280-pound center.

Caracter, 26, debuts for Globalport against NLEX at the Cuneta Astrodome today. The Batang Pier has a 4-4 record with three games left to seal its spot in the quarterfinals. After NLEX, Globalport will play Barangay Ginebra on Saturday and San Miguel Beer on March 24 to close out its schedule.

Caracter is Globalport’s third import after C. J. Leslie and Calvin Warner. According to Globalport PBA Governor Erick Arejola, Warner will stay in town if the team finishes in the top eight and is restricted to recruit an import with a height limit of 6-5 for the third conference. Warner was measured 6-4 15/16 by the PBA. If Globalport finishes in the bottom four, it will be allowed to enlist an import with no height limit for the Governors Cup.

“We’ll decide after our game (against NLEX) if Calvin will stay or not,” said Arejola. “If we enter the 6-5 limit, we’ll definitely keep him. He was supposed to leave but we were able to talk to him.” Warner, 34, averaged 20.75 points and a league-high 23.3 rebounds in four games.

Caracter arrived last Tuesday and started practice with Globalport the next day. “He’s huge and hopefully, can dominate the paint,” said Arejola. Batang Pier team manager B. J. Manalo said Caracter is fit for coach Eric Gonzales’ system as “he can be our dominant guy at the post and can run with our guards.” Manalo described Caracter as a bigger version of Dorian Pena and a back-to-the-basket type. Caracter was measured 6-8 13/16 by the PBA.

Caracter was the Lakers second round pick in the 2010 NBA draft and played 41 games for Los Angeles in 2010-11, averaging 2.0 points and 5.2 minutes. Among his teammates were Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and now New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher. His coach was Phil Jackson. Caracter earned a salary of $744,031 for two seasons with the Lakers although he played in only one. Caracter has also played in Puerto Rico, Israel, Lithuania, Brazil, Taiwan and Uruguay. In Taiwan last season, he averaged 13.7 points and 9.2 rebounds with the Yulon Luxgen. His best showing in Taiwan was when he had 32 points and 26 boards in Yulon’s 74-72 win over the Dacin Tigers last Jan. 17. He led Club de Regatas do Flamengo of Brazil to the FIBA Intercontinental Cup title this year.

A consensus top 20 prospect out of high school, Caracter played two years for coach Rick Pitino at the University of Louisville and one for coach Tony Barbee at the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP). In 2009-10, he averaged 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27 games with the Miners varsity. Caracter shot 56.7 percent from the field and 67.2 percent from the line in his only year at UTEP, Purefoods forward Joe De Vance’s alma mater.

When Caracter joined Louisville, Pitino was upbeat. “He’s un-guardable in the low post,” said Pitino. “He’s a terrific passer, a great ballhandler. He reminds me of a 6-8 Charles Barkley, unbelievably athletic.” But Caracter arrived on campus with baggage. In his senior year of high school, conditioning became a problem and he missed seven games for disciplinary reasons.

Pitino challenged Caracter to lose weight. Caracter showed up at Louisville weighing 321 pounds and lost 50 before making his varsity debut. He sat out the first three games of his freshman season for receiving benefits from a family friend before his senior year of high school, missed a game because of a violation of team rules and also sat out five games on an indefinite leave of absence to address personal issues. Despite the problems, Pitino didn’t give up on Caracter. “His issues were 90 percent weight control and working hard and academic issues,” said Pitino. “He’s a terrific young man and he’s turned the corner. He worked hard. He’s had a major turnaround.”

On the court, Caracter displayed the potential that Pitino saw in claiming him for Louisville. He had 16 points and 10 rebounds against the University of San Francisco, 16 points in the first half against Connecticut and 12 points in 11 minutes in an NCAA Tournament win over Stanford. In Louisville’s last 10 games, he averaged 10.4 points and shot 60.6 percent from the floor.

But after two seasons with the Cardinals, Pitino finally advised Caracter to transfer or play overseas. Caracter said he learned a lot from Pitino. “Everybody makes mistakes and it’s a learning process,” he said. “Coach Pitino taught me a lot of life lessons. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it the same way. I would go to Louisville and transfer to UTEP. The major thing about me being here is that there are fewer distractions than in a big city like Louisville. It’s easier for me to manage my time between going to class and going to the gym.” Caracter took UTEP to first place in the Conference USA and a spot in the NCAA Tournament before joining the NBA draft.