CALVIN Warner hit the ground running in his first game back for GlobalPort on Friday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Arriving earlier in the day at 8 a.m., the returning Batang Pier import found himself suiting up less than half a day later in the team’s game against Tropang TNT, leading his team to a 108-101 victory.
Supposedly without spring in his legs after a tiring 30-hour flight from Dominican Republic, where he last saw action, Warner hauled down 21 rebounds on top of 11 points, two blocks, and two assists
“I had a lot of jet lag, it was pretty exhausting,” the 33-year-old cager admitted. “I just tried to fight for my team and give them all I could give today.”
“I didn’t do great, but it was okay,” added Warner, who replaced Brian Williams.
[See Romeo runs riot as GlobalPort adds to TNT misery]
Batang Pier coach Pido Jarencio lauded his ward for not complaining.
“He’s a true professional,” he said of the 6-foot-5 big man. “Talagang nagtrabaho.”
Warner’s familiarity with the Batang Pier certainly didn’t hurt.
“It's an easy transition,” said the American journeyman, who posted a 2-2 win-loss record with GlobalPort last year. “I just wish I could’ve done better and had more time to get my body adjusted, maybe have a few practices, get my mind right.”
“But it feels good and it's a big advantage to go to a team where you know the players and even the new ones. I'm a team player so it doesn't really matter to me who's in my team. I'm going to fit in with anybody.”
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