First it was Mikey Williams. Now it is Greg Slaughter’s turn to make a PBA comeback.
Sources told SPIN.ph that Slaughter and the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, the team that holds his playing rights, have come to terms on a contract that could lead to the seven-footer's return to the PBA after a five-year absence.
“Greg, in consultation with his wife and advisers, has agreed to receive an amount slightly lower from what he was offered at Northport three years ago,” said a source privy to the negotiations between player and ballclub.
READ Mikey Williams officially goes online with Converge
“The first order of business for Greg here is to return to the PBA and re-introduce himself to the fans while at the same time, show his value as a rare 7-0 center,” he added.
With a sign contract soon to be in place, the only remaining requirement is a green light from the pro league amid reports of a 'silent ban' on Slaughter after his acrimonious departure from NorthPort in 2021.
It remains to be seen now if the PBA and the board will accept the Titan Ultra lineup once it is submitted and Slaughter's UPC (Uniform Players' Contract).
“Basta ang mangyayari dyan, ipapasa ng Titan Ultra yung UPC nil ani Greg sa PBA. Kapag hindi nakalaro si Greg, eh dun na siguro masasagot yung tanong at duda ng marami,” said another PBA insider.
“Kasi ang illogical naman ng Titan Ultra kung may chance ka to get a 7-footer tapos hindi mo gagawin. Eh yan ang wala sa PBA ngayon. Local na big man na pwede mong itapat kay June Mar (Fajardo),” she added.
Titan Ultra management has long expressed its interest in exercising their signing rights to Slaughter even meeting the former Barangay Ginebra and Northport center during the team’s first day of practice last February 3.
Titan Ultra's desire to sign Slaughter became even more compelling after top scorer and rebounder Calvin Abueva demanded a trade that eventually sent him to the Converge FiberXers.
“If hindi tutulungan ng PBA ang Titan Ultra to sign up Greg. kawawa yung bagong team kasi wala silang chance lumakas ulit. This will not bode well for the league. Kasi magiging whipping boys lang sa liga yung team,” the source said.
“The rights of Greg is with Titan Ultra, Titan Ultra wants to use that asset. Tapos hindi mangyayari, unfair yun sa team,” he added.
Mikey return inspires hope
Another league insider expressed hope of a PBA clearance, especially after Williams finally returned to the league by way of Converge after messy contract negotiations with both the FiberXers and the TNT Tropang 5G.
“Dyan nawala si Greg nung di sila nagkasundo ng northport. Kaso ngayon payag na si Greg sa offer ng so dapat wala nang problema. Same way na hindi nagkaproblema ang Converge kay Mikey Williams when they signed him,” he said.
Meanwhile, SPIN.ph tried to contact the management of Titan Ultra but they are not taking calls.
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