Slaughter looks forward to team up with Fajardo in Gilas 4.0

MANILA, Philippines -- Barangay Ginebra big man Greg Slaughter is expecting a “change in scenery” heading into the month of November.

Here’s why.

Slaughter said he’s looking forward to Gilas Pilipinas’ first practice on November 9, where he will finally be on the same team with San Miguel star center June Mar Fajardo.

Both young big men are part of the 17-man Gilas Pilipinas pool that will start preparing for the Olympic qualifying tournament.

The Olympic qualifier is scheduled sometime in July.

“It would really be nice to play with June Mar. That would be a change in scenery because we’ve always been matched up (since college),” Slaughter told Philstar.com on the eve of Ginebra’s Halloween match against Barako Bull.

The 6-foot-11 Slaughter’s rivalry with the wide-bodied Fajardo dates back to their college days in Cesafi (Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.).

The 27-year-old Fajardo starred for University of Visayas, while Fajardo saw action for the University of Cebu.

However, since Slaughter turned pro in 2013, their rivalry in the PBA has been one-sided with the 25-year-old Fajardo winning two league championships with the Beermen, while earning back-to-back MVPs the last two seasons.

Slaughter, who also played two seasons for Ateneo in the UAAP, recognized the growth of his chief Cebuano basketball rival.

“Just the last tuneup game we had, I think he’s coming off an injury. But I can definitely feel he’s getting a lot stronger. He’s a lot more seasoned too, and he’s still young,” noted Slaughter, the former PBA Rookie of the Year.

Now in his third PBA season, Slaughter said his goal is to get stronger and improve on his individual skills in the hope of giving Ginebra a PBA championship and end the franchise’s seven-year title drought.

“A lot of the work has been done during the offseason with coach Kirk (Colier) because we’ve been working out a lot more on individual skills,” shared Slaughter.

“But what’s important for me is the success of the team and the better player I am with Ginebra, the better I’ll be for the country,” he added.

Slaughter and Ginebra will be shooting for their first win under new coach Tim Cone when they collide with Barakl Bull in the PBA Philippine Cup on Halloween.