Duel of rookie giants spices up X’mas Day tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Four years since their last matchup, Cebuano behemoths Junmar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter rekindle their rivalry as they clash for the first time as pro players in the keenly awaited Petron Blaze-Barangay Ginebra Christmas Day setto in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Former fierce rivals in the Cebu collegiate league, Fajardo and Slaughter bring their personal battle to the PBA hard court, providing an interesting side duel in what promises to be an action-packed showdown between the Petron Blaze Boosters and the Ginebra Kings.

For some years, these giants lit up the CESAFI (Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.) tourney with their titanic duels while the 6-foot-10 Fajardo was with the University of Cebu Webmasters and the 7-foot-1 Slaughter with the University of Visayas Green Lancers.

Both brace for a showdown in their initial meeting in the pros – probably the most anticipated individual matchup in the PBA since the first clash of Asi Taulava and Eric Menk in 1998.

No local matchup of their size and dominance has been seen in the pro league history although there was once the EJ Feihl-Bonel Balingit pair but Fajardo and Slaughter are undoubtedly far more marquee and impact players.

Showing the ability to dominate the game this early, some say Fajardo and Slaughter could well develop into a rivalry the way Ramon Fernandez and Abet Guidaben did. Curiously, both Fernandez and Guidaben also came from the varsity league down south.

Going to their match, both carry huge averages with Fajardo piling up 15.5 points, 17.25 rebounds and 3.0 blocks an outing and Slaughter logging 15.0 markers, 10.62 boards and 2.0 blocks a game.

One big thing going with Slaughter is frontcourt tandem Japeth Aguilar who norms 19.75 points, 9.12 rebounds and 4.0 blocks.

“He’s (Slaughter) been doing well then there’s Japeth who’s a shot blocker,” said Fajardo, the 2012 top draft pick.

“Tingin ko mahihirapan kami but I’m sure hahanapan ng paraan ng coaches namin na maka-tapat kami (I think we’ll have a tough time but I’m sure our coaches will find a way to match up with them),” Fajardo added. 

Giving away some inches but tipped to give Fajardo a big help is Arwind Santos, averaging double-double numbers (16.0 points and 10.12 rebounds).