After being hobbled by a severe ankle injury that has prevented him from participating in basketball activities for nearly three months, Greg Slaughter made his way back to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Friday evening.
The seven-footer played his first game since February, and it was a triumphant return, as he produced 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting alongside six rebounds to help the Gin Kings to a 105-91 victory over the Blackwater Elite.
His comeback was made sweeter by the fact that Friday’s win is their first in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.
“Man, it feels great running out there with the guys, it was a lot of fun,” beamed the five-year pro after the match at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
“It’s just a lot of fun. It feels great to be back and I’m excited to build on this.”
Slaughter is elated that he has finally been given the go signal to play, as it gives him some sense of satisfaction after failing to return in the 2018 Philippine Cup — he’d looked to play in the semifinals versus San Miguel Beer, but to no avail.
“It was just the worst.
“It came out in the worst timing. We did everything we could to try and come back for the [Philippine Cup] playoffs but you know, obviously it was really bad. It was really frustrating,” admitted the Ateneo de Manila product.
Slaughter’s return only spells doom for the other teams, as the Barangay’s twin towers are back up once more. However, the 2017 Governor’s Cup Best Player of the Conference insisted that he has yet to get back into shape.
‘I gotta work in getting in shape, a few moments out there I was catching my breathe a little too hard,” expressed Slaughter, who played over 24 minutes. “I need to work on that in the coming weeks.
“There’s still time to get in shape.”
