WHERE is Greg Slaughter?
The controversial 7-0 former Barangay Ginebra slotman, the object of long negotiations with PBA ballclub Titan Ultra, is re-donning the Zamboanga Valientes jersey for the coming Asia Pacific Basketball Tournament in Melbourne, Australia.
Slaughter and the rest of the Valientes flew to the Land Down Under on Tuesday morning for the three-day tournament that will kick off on April 3 at the Waverley Basketball Stadium.
READ Why Titan has yet to sign Slaughter up until this time
The Valientes will be the second team representing the Philippines in the 12-club pocket tournament after We Are CSAS Pilipinas, which will compete in Division 1.
The Valientes will compete in the Premiere Division, where NBL-Australia teams are also expected to compete, including BSBL Guardians (Brisbane), BTO MBL All Stars and Black Rhinos.
SPIN.ph tried to contact Slaughter for comments but he opted to remain mum on his pending PBA return as well as on his stint with the Valientes. But Valientes team owner Junnie Navarro explained they were able to secure the services of Slaughter, technically a free agent, after their participation in a Dubai tournament.
“I called him if he already has a contract in the PBA or somewhere else, sabi n'ya wala. So good, we signed him up to reinforce our squad,” said Navarro, a Zamboanga City councilor.
Navarro reiterated that they never intervened in the negotiations between Slaughter and Titan Ultra as there was no contract existing between him and the PBA's newest ballclub.
“Yun ang sinabi n'ya, wala pa sila contract so since free siya I asked him if he can join us. He said yes. Parang continuity lang to ng usapan naming from Dubai,” said Navarro.
Sources, meanwhile, bared to SPIN.ph a long delay in the negotiations between Slaughter and Titan Ultra since the Giant Risers management had to clear with the PBA and its board the status of the former Ateneo Blue Eagle.
Another information reaching SPIN.ph bared that Titan Ultra management was even summoned to the PBA office regarding the hiring of Slaughter.
There, the Titan Ultra officials were reportedly met with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and PBA board members Alfrancis Chua (Ginebra), Atty Raymond Zorilla (Phoenix), Atty Mamerto Mondragon (Rain or Shine) and Paolo Trillo (Meralco team manager).
The meeting eventually turned out to be positive for Slaughter and Titan Ultra as the board and the PBA Commissioner’s Office gave his reinstatement the green light.
“Wala naman nang opposition sa Titan pero may mga naging tanong. I can’t tell you more about it kasi it was [behind] closed door,” said the source who did not deny nor confirm the reported ‘silent ban’ imposed against Slaughter for the past six years.
“You’re asking about a silent ban? Consider this: Titan Ultra was summoned to the PBA office specifically regarding a certain player’s hiring. Does that happen every time a team signs a free agent? I’ll let you do the math,” said the source.
The same source bared that it was the same reason why the signing of Slaughter’s contract was delayed.
“Kasi February 3 yung nilabas n'yo sa SPIN.ph na nagpunta sa practice ng Titan Ultra si Greg, di ba? February 17 yung summon ng PBA. So, in between February 3 and March 10, hindi pa muna gumalaw ang Titan. But I believe, Slaughter’s advisers were informed of this,” he said.
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Asked if he will be one of those that will encourage Slaughter to return to the PBA, Navarro said yes.
“Kausapin ko si Greg pagbalik nila from Australia. Kasi ako mismo, ang dami ko players tinulungan para makapag-PBA, yan ang premiere league dito sa atin. So bakit ko pipigilan si Greg mag PBA,” said Navarro, who also supported some Zamboanga-raised players like Peter Alfaro, brothers Chester and Mike Tolomia, and even Mark Barroca.
Meanwhile, Slaughter will be joined in the Valientes squad by mainstays Mike Tolomia, Rudy Lingganay and NBA G League player Malik Miller. Terrence Romeo’s busy schedule kept him from joining the Valientes in this sojourn.
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