San Miguel Corporation (SMC) sports director Alfrancis Chua is set to meet Greg Slaughter in the coming weeks, willing to listen to the 7-foot slotman’s side regarding his decision to skip the last PBA season.
“Kakausapin ko siya. Kung walong taon ‘yun talagang kailangan siguro ng usap na ano eh ‘no,” he told The Chasedown Saturday. “Sa panahon ngayon sa pandemic na to ang gulo-gulo na nga, makikipagaway pa ba, ‘di ba?
“Pakinggan na lang natin kung ano yung mga rason nila. Kung kaya nating intindihin, intindihin na lang natin. Siguro mahirap din ‘yung naranasan niya nitong pandemic na ‘to.
“Hindi naman tayo ganun ka-salbahi na hindi natin papakinggan yung mga reason behind that,” Chua furthered.
Slaughter, before 2020 ended, issued an apology via Instagram to Chua, SMC president Ramon S. Ang, and Ginebra for surprisingly taking a break from basketball last February following the expiration of his contract.
His sabbatical saw him fly to the United States last March, where he trained to hone his game further before flying back home last September. But he did not return to the Barangay and missed the season held in the Clark bubble.
Even without him, though, the Gin Kings reigned supreme in the 2020 Philippine Cup, beating TNT Tropang Giga in five games to win the franchise’s first all-Filipino championship in 13 long years.
It also ushered a new era for the league’s most prestigious conference that was lorded over by San Miguel Beer in the last five years.
“We won a championship with and without him, so parehong na-experience ng mga players natin yun,” said Chua.
But even if the two are about to meet personally, that doesn’t guarantee whatsoever that Slaughter will be back to suit up for Ginebra, who picked him 1st overall in 2013 and won a total of four titles with.
Asked if RSA will also be there to meet with Slaughter, Chua said that the meeting will only be between the two.
“Kami na lang siguro. Kami na lang muna maguusap,” said the former bench tactician, who also serves as Ginebra’s governor.
“Kami na lang muna. Palagay ko okay na yun.”
