It might have taken nearly a decade, but it’s better late than never.
Nine years after battling for the CESAFI crown in Cebu, Greg Slaughter and June Mar Fajardo will be slugging it out for another title, this time for the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship.
Slaughter’s Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Fajardo’s San Miguel Beermen will start their race-to-four bid for the crown this Friday, July 27, 7:00 PM still at the Big Dome.
The five-year pro is excited for this match-up, for this will be the first time that they will be facing off in a PBA Finals — injuries that hit the seven-footer stalled their awaited clashes for the last five years.
They have only met nine out of the possible 30 times since 2013.
“The last time we got to play in the Finals was all the way back to 2009,” reflected Slaughter.
“It’s good to just be able to face off on the largest stage, in the Finals, where all the marbles count.”
Aside from the fact that it will be a first time for them, what makes Slaughter eager in playing versus Fajardo is that brings back the memories of their heydays in their hometown.
Slaughter, before transferring to Ateneo de Manila in 2009, played for the University of Visayas Green Lancers, while Fajardo suited up for the University of Cebu Webmasters.
“It brings back good memories of our home in Cebu. That’s where we played. That’s where we’re from. We were young then, 19, 18-year-olds playing in the Finals against each other,” he said.
“We’ve come along. It’s exciting to do that again.”
