COLUMN: Will Greg Slaughter ever find his way back to the PBA?

GREG Slaughter used to crush the competition the way a lawn mower cuts through a sward of unkempt grass

Here's a sampling of the mayhem he has caused and the accolades that came with it:

Five titles in college, five All-Star nods, four PBA championships, Rookie of the Year (2014) and Best Player of the Conference (Governors' Cup 2017).

At 7-feet and 258 pounds, Greg is missed, literally and figuratively. Which explains the hankering for him to make a glorious return.

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"Whether online or when they see me in person, fans ask me, sometimes as often as three times a day, if and when they can see me play again," the gentle, likable giant told me in a telephone interview.

"I am just hoping I can get a chance to play again for the Filipino fans," he added.

THE WAY BACK

The idea of Greg reprising his role as a destructive force in the PBA is appetizing given the fact that the league has a dearth of true bigs that can occupy the shaded lane like a bus.

But a return to the PBA will require a couple hurdles to successfully navigate.

Even though he left the team in early January of 2022, the NorthPort Batang Pier kept his rights after they tendered him an offer shortly thereafter.

Curious of his status, Greg was informed by the league yesterday morning that he is "a restricted free agent" which means other PBA teams can make him an offer. But since NorthPort holds his rights, they can match whatever offers Greg receives.

The alleged "silent ban" imposed against him and the impending arrival of Pureblends as the new owners of the NorthPort franchise complicates the situation.

PERFECT FIT?

But what if an independent team, say a Rain or Shine," make an ardent pursuit of Slaughter?

That would be fantastic.

Greg playing for coach Yeng Guiao, a righteous maverick, would be like an art piece in the hands of a master curator.

On the other hand, if Pureblends is serious in competing, signing Greg as their foundation in the middle would be a wonderful place to start.

After a few years' stint in the Japan B League, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle last played in October 2024 for the Manila Stars in the MPBL.

Although he is currently fielding offers to play in Taiwan, Greg opts to keep his talents at home. He has stayed in shape and works out every day. In fact, he had just emerged from an oxygen chamber when we did the interview on Thursday afternoon.

Off the court, Greg couldn't be happier. Last week, He, his wife and their two daughters welcomed another princess to their growing family.

Motivated like never before, GregZilla is ready to re-conquer the PBA. It's a feel-good story that deserves a fairy tale ending.