SLAUGHTER JUST WANTS TO GET BETTER & WIN

There is definitely pressure if you’re selected as the first overall pick in a Rookie Draft. But that pressure gets another layer when the team that plucked you out of the grab bag is no less than the crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

And there’s no better player who can handle that enormous pressure than the seven-foot tall Greg Slaughter.

The former Ateneo Blue Eagle and UV Green Lancer was stellar in his first two games, a steady double-double monster in the paint which the Ginebra faithful steadily waited for in the past.

He tallied 10 points and 13 rebounds in his debut against San Mig Super Coffee, then followed it up a week after with a 18-point, 13 rebound, and three-block outing versus Rain or Shine.

“Mas comfortable na sya ngayon,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin. “Nakapag-adjust na rin siguro sya in his second game. Dapat alam na nya yung mga gagawin nya.”

And the giant knows what he has to do for the Kings.

“LA (Tenorio) and Mark (Caguioa), they do their job in finding me when we are running the floor. They are constantly giving me the ball at the post, and I’m just doing my job in rebounding and blocking shots,” he said.

Slaughter added, “We’re a young team and we’re still jelling. We have a lot of additions especially in our big men. Me, Jay-R (Reyes), even (Bryan) Faundo, as well as (James) Forrester coming in. If we’re just given more time to jell, we can feel each other out.”

Though Slaughter is already stamping his class in the paint, his coach still wants to see improvements for his young starting center.

“Kailangan pa naming patakbuhin si Greg sa transition defense,” he said. “Dapat ding pag-aralan nya how to play better in the post.”

Slaughter acknowledges that there are still flaws in his game, but he insists that a little patience can bear sweet fruits of labor in the future.

“We’re just trying to learn the plays and we’re still getting it. We’ll try to be crisp in our game so we can have continuous movement all the time,” he said.

His entry into the league also places the spotlight on the wars in the paint, with awaited clashes against ex-Ginebra stalwart Eric Menk, Asi Taulava, and familiar Cebuano rival Junemar Fajardo in the wings for Slaughter. But for the stud, he says that he’ll just be ready for all of them.

“Whoever’s out there, we’ll just take it and play our brand of basketball. I’m excited,” Slaughter said.

“I’m not thinking about that, the same as I don’t really have individualistic goals. Even in college, I didn’t have that. The only thing I focus on is to help the team win,” he added.

“I’m just going to keep working hard. I’m doing what I want to do now and I’m dedicating myself for it. I’m trying my best to win for Ginebra.” (RLeongson)