It had been 317 days since Greg Slaughter last played a highly-competitive basketball game. And the 6-foot-11 big man was just relieved to finally get his feet wet.
“It’s been a long time. About over a year?” said Slaughter, whose last game was back in September 9, 2016 when Ginebra took on the then-Mahindra Floodbuster.
“Yeah, No pain. I feel good, better than I was before.”
The 29-year old, who had surgery to repair a torn ACL on his right knee last October, played a surprising 30 minutes in his first game back, scoring 14 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and swatting away three shots. However, Ginebra lost its conference-opener to Meralco, 78-93.
For Slaughter, he opined that the defending champions are still figuring out how they can optimize a line-up that features him, Japeth Aguilar, and Justin Brownlee.
“I think the rebounds were out of control,” said the four-year pro as Durham and the Bolts out-rebounded the Gin Kings, 60-52, that led to an 18-10 second chance points advantage.
“That’s up to me, Japeth, and Justin and figure out with our big lineup how we’re going to control them rebounds because with a lineup with our size, I don’t think there should be any game where we lose rebounds.”
And with Ginebra winning a championship and making two deep playoff runs without him, the former Mythical Team member believes that it is him who should make the adjustments, not Coach Tim Cone nor any of his teammates.
“I think we just have some chemistry to figure out, you know? I’m coming in after over a year, during that time we really had a lot of success, so it’s up to me to try to figure out how to fit in with everyone,” said the Ateneo alumnus.
“We have a different style of play now. So I’m looking how I can fit in, help everyone else, compliment our team to be better.”
With 10 more games in the elimination round, Slaughter has plenty of time to find his role with the defending champions.
