Black praises Slaughter to high heavens

Meralco coach Norman Black nodded his head after being reminded of the task containing Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s 7-foot center Greg Slaughter days before the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals began Friday night in Lucena City.

“It’s gonna be difficult. He’s 7-foot and he’s talented,” Black said after Tuesday’s pre-Finals press conference at Sambokojin restaurant in Eastwood Libis.

Five years earlier, it was Black who was enjoying the luxury of using Slaughter to frustrate rival teams as they teamed up to give the Ateneo Blue Eagles their fifth straight UAAP crown.

Now on opposite sides, Black can only hope that the Bolts get the job done of at least limiting Slaughter’s impact in their rematch with the Gin Kings.

“He’s a high-percentage player around the basket, he knows how to make shots around the basket, he’s a good offensive rebounder, and he knows how to finish his plays. It’s gonna be very difficult for us,” added Black.

Slaughter, who played for the Blue Eagles in 2011 and 2012, is eager to make it even harder for his former mentor.

“I would love to give him nothing but problems, headaches and sleepless night,” Slaughter said while laughing.

Slaughter was a shock addition to an already-stacked Ateneo squad following a decorated career with University of the Visayas in the Cebu Schools Athletic Federation Inc. (CESAFI), becoming the focal point of Black’s offensive schemes.

Teaming up with Kirk Long, Juami Tiongson, Ryan Buenafe, Nico Salva and Kiefer Ravena, Slaughter helped complete the Blue Eagles’ five-peat with title victories over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in 2011 and University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in 2012, establishing themselves as one of collegiate basketball’s great dynasties.

—JONAS TERRADO