By JONAS TERRADO
Greg Slaughter is facing a new challenge of getting his fitness level back after making his return from a lengthy absence due to an injured left ankle.
The 7-foot center said his shape left plenty to be desired despite finishing with 12 points and six rebounds in 25 minutes of play in the team’s 105-91 win over the Blackwater Elite Friday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna.
That’s because Slaughter hopes to make a significant contribution for the crowd favorites in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“I gotta work in getting in shape,” Slaughter said. “A few moments out there I was catching with breath a little too hard. But it’s just a lot of fun, it feels great to be back and I’m excited to build on this.”
Slaughter missed almost three months after injuring his left ankle in practice last February. Plans for him to play in the Philippine Cup playoffs were shelved when doctors realized that the sprain was worse than initially thought.
He was forced to sit on the sidelines when Ginebra was booted out by eventual champion San Miguel in the semifinals.
“It came just in the worst timing,” he said. “We did everything we could to try and come back for the playoffs but obviously it was really bad. It was really frustrating but rather than be down about it, just gotta keep working to come back.”
Coach Tim Cone made good on his declaration to keeping the towering center under restricted minutes, though he sees big things ahead from him.
“He’s a difference-maker,” Cone said. “Teams have to play us differently when he’s playing. It’s his first game in a couple of months so he’s not in a shape that he wants to be in yet.
“But as long as he doesn’t have a recurrence, he’s gonna get better and better and stronger and I think we’ll get better along with him,” added the American mentor.
