PLAYING in alumni games is keeping Greg Slaughter in shape and good to go just in case the long-awaited PBA call-up finally comes.
The 7-foot center was dominant for Ateneo in his Pinoyliga Alumni Cup, spearheading the Blue Eagles to a 108-90 win over Adamson at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The former first overall pick of Barangay Ginebra scattered 37 points, 15 rebounds, and four block shots in Ateneo’s third win in five games.
The 37-year-old Slaughter is currently on standby, as a possible return to the country’s 50-year-old pro league hangs in the balance pending ongoing negotiations with the Titan Ultra team that owns his playing rights.
“Stay in shape, stay ready. We’re all basketball players,” said Slaughter, admitting having some fun wearing the blue and white again.
“You see a lot of guys have been retired for a long time, but they’re still in shape, ready to play. It goes to show, this is what we do,” added the big man, who won two UAAP titles with the Blue Eagles in 2011 and 2012 under coach Norman Black.
Slaughter has been out of the PBA since 2021 when he didn’t sign a new contract with NorthPort and instead, brought his act to Japan in the B2.League for the Rising Zephyr Fukuoka.
He later played in the MPBL upon returning to Manila following a two-year sojourn in Japan.
What's next?
Talks of a PBA return had been revived earlier when Titan Ultra brought the NorthPort franchise prior to the start of Season 50.
READ: Titan Ultra gets winger Gilmore for import as Slaughter talks continue
With no finality yet on whether he can finally suit up for the Giant Risers in the coming Commissioner’s Cup, Slaughter, a five-time PBA champion and former Best Player of the Conference, opted to join fellow Ateneo alumni in the ongoing Pinoyliga tournament.
“It was very fun. Thank you to Adamson for a very fun game. They competed hard. Credit to my teammates too for stepping up. It was a lot of fun,” he said.
Jai Reyes complemented Slaughter with a solid game of 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field, including 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, while adding five rebounds and four assists for the Blue Eagles, who are backed by Bahn Mi Kitchen.
Nico Salva, member of Ateneo's five-peat from 2008-2012, added 15 points.
Former Rain or Shine wingman Ronnie Matias had a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Soaring Falcons, whose campaign is supported by Shawarma Shack.
Ateneo stayed at second place behind the unblemished 5-0 card of Letran, while Adamson fell to 1-3, tied at the bottom of the standings with University of the East.
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