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During his time in the PBA, Greg Slaughter was one of the very few players who could match up height-wise with June Mar Fajardo.
There was a very tall figure lingering outside the hotel ballroom where the annual Leo Awards of the PBA were being held on Sunday afternoon. He was just keeping to himself, but even if he wanted to appear inconspicuous, it’s hard to miss seven-foot Greg Slaughter.
The former top draft pick’s presence at an official league event was something of a surprise, considering he last played for a PBA team in 2021 with the NorthPort Batang Pier. He has since played in Japan and in the MPBL, but until Sunday, there was little news of him returning to the PBA.
As it turns out, Slaughter might be making a comeback pretty soon.
“I talked to Commissioner Willie (Marcial),” he told a small group of reporters. “He invited me to this event. It’s a really big year for the PBA, so, I thought it would be a really good thing to be here. You know, the PBA has done a lot for me and my life and my family. So, I’m just happy to be here on such a big event.”
Slaughter’s last PBA team is no longer in the league, its franchise having been purchased by Pure Blends, which is fielding a team bearing the name Titan Ultra. Slaughter said he’s been in contact with Titan Ultra’s team manager, Aldriane Anglim, who just so happens to be an old friend.
“I’ve been in touch with my rights holders, Pure Blends. Actually, their team manager, just when he was like a little boy, he used to come to our Ginebra practices. So, I’ve known him for a while. I just recently found out he was the team manager of the team that happens to have my rights. So just a little talk with him so far, but nothing certain.”
Slaughter became a restricted free agent in January 2022, but he and NorthPort management were unable to come to terms on a new contract. He decided to venture overseas, signing with the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka of the Japan B2 League for two years.
“It was really good,” he said of his stay in Fukuoka. “I really enjoyed being out there in Japan. I already had my first daughter by then. So, she got to grow up there. My second daughter was actually born in Japan.”
After his contract with the Rizing Zephyr expired, Slaughter brought his family back to the Philippines, where he began playing in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), first for the Manila SV Batang Sampaloc and then for the Basilan Starhorse.
“It was fun in the MPBL,” he said. “They’re still a relatively young league, but very interesting to see the talent that they have in there. And, it just goes to show you how many talented Filipino basketball players there are in the country.”
Gregzilla vs. Kraken Part 2
But now, at 37 and with three young daughters, Slaughter wants to settle down in the NCR area and wind up his pro career where it started.
“If I’m being honest, yes. I do want to come back to play in the PBA. You know, this is really home. I had my third daughter just born here a couple of weeks ago now. So, we just settled down in Laguna now.
“And, I’ve got my three daughters. There’s just three, one, and a newborn. So, we’ll be here for a while and definitely I want to come back to play.”
If he does come back, it will mean a revival of one of the most anticipated big men matchups of the 2010s: Greg Slaughter vs. June Mar Fajardo, or more popularly known as Gregzilla vs. The Kraken. The two go way back, beginning with their days as college players in Cebu. Fajardo has gone on to win nine MVP awards.
“June Mar is June Mar. I actually got a really close-up look at him, before either of us were really known in Philippine basketball. So, honestly, he was one of the first people I met when I came here in 2007. So, just to see how far we both come in our basketball careers has been something fun.
“Playing against him has always been fun, and I just hope I get another chance to play against him. But, in the meantime, we still play some DOTA together.”
Fajardo said he chatted briefly with Slaughter at the awards event and is also hoping his old friend and rival can find his way back to the PBA.
“Oo, sana makabalik siya,” he told The GAME. “Malaking bagay yun para sa PBA. Magaling pa rin siya.”
For that to happen, Greg Slaughter has to navigate through his restricted free agent status with his potential new team.
“I did get some clarity on where I stand and, that’s a restricted free agent, so, that much is certain now. As for the next step, it’s still not sure yet. So, hopefully after (Sunday)’s event, we’ll have a lot more understanding and clarity.”
While waiting for all this to get sorted out, Slaughter has made it known to the decision-makers that he is available to once again represent the country in the Southeast Asian Games. It just so happens that the men’s basketball coach for the 2025 Thailand Games, Norman Black, was also his college coach at Ateneo. What’s more, Black and Slaughter were together in the gold-medal winning team in the 2011 Jakarta SEA Games.
“Actually, when I first found out he was gonna be coach, one of the first things I did was message him. Tell him that, from my understanding, a lot of the PBA players wouldn’t be available.
“So, I right away told him that I was available. I won a gold already with him way back in 2011, I believe it was. So, I told him I would love to do that again with him now.”
Banner images from Ed Simon/KLIQ, Inc.