Comebacking Greg Slaughter will be ready to play for Gilas in six months, says Cone
ON the heels of June Mar Fajardo’s pull out from the national team, one player is showing signs of progress and a possibility of inclusion in Gilas Pilipinas looks imminent.
Seven- foot Greg Slaughter, an original member of the all-amateur Smart- Gilas Pilipinas, is making his presence felt this early in the PBA Governors’ Cup. Four games since returning from an ACL tear injury, the Barangay Ginebra slotman has been making significant strides, helping the Gin Kings to three straight wins.
Mr. Slaughter has averaged 15.25 points and 9.75 rebounds per game and is slowly but surely getting back in peak form.
With Mr. Slaughter back in harness, Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone decided to make him as the anchor of the triangle offense, which has been reverted following the return of their main man up front.
Four games since he returned after being idle for nearly a year, Mr. Slaughter is playing more comfortably — and that produced good results for the Gin Kings, who have now vaulted into solo second place of the team standings and made a push in their title retention bid.
And if Mr. Slaughter continues to get better, Mr. Cone believes he might be ready to play for the Gilas Pilipinas team if given the chance.
Mr. Slaughter getting better is definitely a welcome development not just for the Gin Kings, but also for the national team’s future international tournaments. After the FIBA Asia Cup, the Philippines will play in the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, then will plunge back to action in November at the start of the six-window home and away tournament leading to the 2019 World Cup.
By that time, Mr. Slaughter will be ready, according to Mr. Cone, if ever Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes decides to tap his services.
“I think Greg will be a great help for the national team when his legs are back. I don’t think he’s ready now, but maybe six months from now or a year from now, he’ll be a big help,” Mr. Cone told BusinessWorld.
Hopefully, by November, Filipino basketball fans would see the twin towers — Messrs. Slaughter and Fajardo — playing for Gilas Pilipinas. —