Ginebra coach Tim Cone maintained his plan to sit down and discuss things with Greg Slaughter while clarifying that he’s not in the dark regarding his player’s desire to take a sabbatical.
“Contrary to some reports, I did know Greg was contemplating taking a break from basketball,” said the multi-titled Ginebra mentor.
“We discussed it during our exit meeting immediately following the championship, and I hope to discuss it further in the next couple of days.”
Cone is bracing for Slaughter’s likely exit.
“Obviously, his absence in the All-Filipino would be a big blow to the team and his teammates,” Cone said.
On a high from their Governors Cup title run, Cone had looked forward to extending a great ride to the Philippine Cup — a tournament he has yet to win with the Gin Kings.
Minus June Mar Fajardo, who will be out for a long time due to a broken right tibia, Ginebra was tipped to be the team to watch in the tourney that will fire off on March 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But then came Slaughter’s announcement, and a big shock to the Ginebra diehards.
Though deemed ‘soft’ by critics, Slaughter is Slaughter. Last season, the Fil-Am behemoth was good for averages of 9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 0.9 block.
He’s the team’s fourth-best scorer after Stanley Pringle (10.0), Japeth Aguilar (14.6) and LA Tenorio (11.8).
Aguilar is also bracing for a tough grind minus his frontline partner.
“Things will never be the same,” he said on his Twitter account.
