Alaska players gang up on CJ Leslie as he puts up a shot. PBA IMAGES/Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — With a new import in the wings, CJ Leslie made a lasting impression and Globalport took advantage of an injury-depleted Alaska, 95-73, to snap a two-game slide in the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Tuesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In what could be his final game for the Batang Pier, Leslie scored 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field and had 18 rebounds and four assists.
Replacement import Calvin Warner already practiced with Globalport Monday and was supposed to play against Alaska, but head coach Eric Gonzales revealed that the team is still waiting for the clearance from the Jordan Basketball Federation. Warner last played in Jordan.
“The management will still evaluate on that,” said Gonzales when asked whether Leslie had played his farewell game despite putting up quite a performance.
Terrence Romeo added 25 points including successive 3-pointers as Globalport’s lead swelled to 23, 87-64, with 3:50 left. Romeo went 6-of-10 from the three-point area and uncorked four in the fourth quarter.
“The players responded. Coaches can only do so much because in the end it’s the players who will play,” said Gonzales. “They didn’t have Manuel and Abueva and I told my players not to relax. The game is won in the second half.”
Vic Manuel and Calvin Abueva were out with a knee injury they sustained in a close win over NLEX last Saturday. Sonny Thoss (foot) and JVee Casio (wrist) missed their third straight game for the Aces.
Reeling without its four stars, Alaska managed to take a nine-point lead, 27-18, in the first quarter before Globalport went on a pivotal 12-0 run to start the second quarter to take the lead for good.
DJ Covington had 25 points and 14 rebounds but the Aces, who fell to 1-2, will need much more from their import to survive the next couple of games as their injured stars recuperate.
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