Reduced to being the team’s tallest ‘cheerleader,’ Barangay Ginebra San Miguel center Greg Slaughter is doing everything he can to help the Kings in their series with defending champion San Miguel Beer.
While not being on the floor, blocking shots, rebounding or scoring.
From giving tips to exchanging high fives to his teammates, Slaughter said he is proud of the way Ginebra played – especially on the defensive end as the team’s frontline unit held its own against SMB’s June Mar Fajardo.
Ginebra took Game 1 with a 115-108 win Monday night.
“Just overall, I think the defense on June Mar was good. Everyone did a good job taking turns on him. It was like a whole team effort,” said Slaughter, giving special mention to import Justin Brownlee, Japeth Aguilar and Dave Marcelo.
The reigning back-to-back MVP Fajardo scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, although his touches on the ball were limited to only 16. Aguilar blocked three of his attempts, the third of which came in the final moments of the game that resulted in a traveling violation.
Slaughter missed the team’s first eight games after he had surgery on his right foot, but when he returned last Sept. 9 in a game versus Mahindra, he injured his right knee, which turned out to be an ACL tear.
Slaughter said that not being able to play and help the team is a sickening feeling.
“It’s killing me, I wish I could be out there,” said the 7-foot Slaughter. “(But) it’s just a setback, It’s not the end. I know I’ll just keep progressing. When I come back, I know I’ll be where I want to be.”
