CUBAO, Quezon City—Although he failed to help Ginebra win in their first game in the PBA Governors’ Cup against Meralco on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the returning Greg Slaughter took time to talk about his winning days with the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in the Cesafi.
“(In UV) I’ve got so many good memories there,” said the 7-foot Cebuano big man, who made his return to Ginebra’s lineup after being sidelined for a year due to an ACL injury. “We won three championships in a row there and nothing gives me more joy than winning.”
Slaughter started his journey playing in the Cesafi eight years ago, dominating the shaded lane in a time when reigning PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo– also a Cebuano — started his career with the University of Cebu.
Slaughter played for the Green Lancers from 2007 to 2009 before bringing his talents to the UAAP with the multi-titled Ateneo de Manila University.
Slaughter, whose mom is from Cebu, can recall how warm his teammates were even during his first practice with UV.
“In my first day in practice, my teammates were just so nice and they always made me feel welcome,” said Slaughter, who managed to finish with 14 points and 13 rebounds in 30 minutes of action in his first game in the PBA this year. Ginebra lost, 78-93.
Asked if there was one teammate he couldn’t forget, he said it was Von Lanete, the brother of Meralco’s Garvo Lanete.
“We were actually roommates and we spent a lot of time together.”
Lanete graduated a year ahead of Slaughter but he cherished those times when they sneaked in and out of practice.
Slaughter, who scored Ginebra’s first basket against Meralco, is still trying to cope with Ginebra’s new style of play but said he is confident he will be able to catch up eventually.
“I feel good and better than I was. I’m just trying to find my timing and try to find how I can fit in with the guys,” Slaughter said.
Ginebra next plays Globalport this Sunday.
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