Hardly missing a beat since helping the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel capture their second PBA Governors’ Cup crown under Tim Cone, Gin Kings slotman Greg Slaughter opened the 43rd season with a bang with back-to-back solid games to earn the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week.
Slaughter kicked off the PBA’s new season by knocking down 24 points, hauling down 12 rebounds and adding 4 blocks to lead Ginebra to an 89-78 victory over long-time rival Magnolia Hotshots in the Manila Clasico on Christmas Day at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
The former Ateneo big man is no doubt Ginebra’s main weapon inside the paint, as he used his size and length over his shorter Magnolia defenders to lead the Kings to their eighth straight Christmas Day win. Ginebra have only lost once in 11 Christmas Day games.
“I understand that I have a big responsibility now. With one conference behind me after my injury I feel like I’m back feeling comfortable with everything,” said the four-year league veteran. “Last conference we won the championship with Justin [Brownlee], that’s great.
“But now that we’re without him, we’ve got to step up and I’m ready to take on that role.”
The 6-foot-11 Slaughter then continued his dominant showing despite a long holiday break by flirting with a double-double — scoring 18 points and adding nine boards, while making his presence felt on the defensive end with five blocks, as Ginebra squeaked past the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 104-97, last Sunday.
Slaughter impressive performances to start the season have earned him the weekly citation, beating a number of candidates led by teammate LA Tenorio; Phoenix’s gunner Matthew Wright, rookie Jason Perkins and big man Doug Kramer; TNT’s Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and Mo Tautuaa; San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot; and Blackwater’s Mike DiGregorio and Mac Belo.
Ginebra will be gunning for their third straight win in the Philippine Cup when they battle the Blackwater Elite this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
