Slaughter savors getting the best of Fajardo anew

Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter goes up against fellow Cebuano big man June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel in Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. INQUIRER

Cebuano big man Greg Slaughter is savoring his most recent victory over rival and fellow Cebuano June Mar Fajardo after the Brgy. Ginebra Kings finished off the latter’s San Miguel Beermen in Game 6, 93-77, in the finals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday night.

So much that it reminded him of the success he previously had over Fajardo back when they were still playing in the Cesafi nearly a decade ago.

“It brings back memories of Cebu. It’s hard to imagine the last time we got to face off in a finals that wasn’t in Cebu!” said the 7-footer who collected 13 points and nine rebounds in the title-clinching win.

Fajardo had better number all throughout the series, including in Game 6, where he finished with 29 points but Slaughter’s team got the all-important win and the title.

Before they were giants on the biggest basketball stage here in the country, Slaughter, a former stud of the University of the Visayas (UV) and Fajardo, formerly of the University of Cebu (UC), were big men on campus who squared off for the Cesafi championship back in 2009.

Slaughter got the best of Fajardo in that best-of-five series, 3-1. And before their recent clash in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals, that was the last time the two skilled big men faced off in a championship series as Slaughter moved on to play for Ateneo de Manila while Fajardo went on to win two Cesafi titles for the Webmasters in 2010 and 2011.

Slaughter, who had been battling a slew of injuries in the past few years, also expressed how good it felt to finally be healthy enough to play and make an impact.

“It really felt good to be complete. I think it shows we can compete with anyone when we’re complete,” Slaughter added.