JUST when Greg Slaughter was about to get a shot at a PBA comeback, the giant slotman cannot be reached.
Titan Ultra Giant Risers team governor Emil Tiu told SPIN.ph that up to now, Slaughter, the new PBA team's top free-agent target, has not been taking their calls, and his response has been limited to a few text replies.
“Ilang tao ko na ang tumatawag sa kanya, pero hindi nya kami sinasagot. He was vague with his responses. Our tender offer is ready, the PBA is waiting. Pero I don’t know what happened,” a perplexed Tiu told SPIN.ph.
“Wala naman na kaming problema sa contract and amount kasi through his advisers, we agreed to a maximum pay of P420,000 per month,” he said.
READ New Titan Ultra coach mum on why Greg Slaughter remains unsigned
Tiu bared that they can offer Slaughter more than what was offered but they already told Slaughter that they want to see his fitness first while securing his signature to play for Titan Ulta, which is in dire need of a big man.
“Nagkasundo na kami. We already talked about it, we already talked to the PBA regarding his status, the PBA said walang silent ban, so silently we've been working to get him to sign with us. Pero up to now, more than a month after, ghosted kami,” he said.
“We didn’t give him more than P420,000 yet kasi gusto muna namin siya makitang maglaro. Like I told them, willing naman kami to give a short-term contract or a renegotiation clause, para he can be secured with us. We gave him those leeways, kaso bigla na lang nawala parang bula,” added Tiu.
The soft-spoken Titan Ultra executive even bared how he told Slaughter that they're his ticket back to the PBA.
“Sinabi namin kay Greg yun na kami lang ang ticket nya to the league. Kasi we own his rights and we can deal with the PBA regarding any problem. We did that, nakausap na namin si commissioner [Willie Marcial] as well as some members of the board, pero bakit ganun? Hindi ko na alam,” he said.
Tiu bared that they let go of Calvin Abueva, who was then demanding a trade, because they expected Slaughter to fill the most crucial void in their lineup.
And just when they thought everything was settled, suddenly Slaughter was nowhere to be found, Tiu said.
“Hindi siya saumasagot sa tawag ko, sa tawag ng mga advisers nya. So ano ibig sabihin nun?” he said. “Ang unfair lang para sa amin, kasi we gambled on having him with us. Kasi assuming totoo yung silent ban, pinilit namin na kunin siya. Nag-risk kami ng aming relationship sa PBA.
“And now, na the PBA told us to [go ahead and] sign him, nung hinahanap na ng PBA contract, wala kaming maibigay, because he suddenly cut his communication with us,” said Tiu.
Tiu bared they are still giving the former Barangay Ginebra big man a few more days to talk to them.
“Hindi naman kailangang umabot na kami mismo magpapa-ban sa kanya. Sa totoo lang, napahiya kami sa PBA at sa fans. Kaso andyan na eh. I am just hoping he contacts us soon, let us know if may iba na ba siya team na lalaruin. Is he in the MPBL? In some other leagues?” said Tiu.
“Ang sa amin lang, let’s finish this negotiation. If ayaw n'ya sa ino-offer namin, so be it. If gusto n'ya, then we can meet for signing. Yun lang naman hinihiling namin. We need him, but he also needs us if he wants to really return to the PBA,” he added.
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