American trainer helps Greg Slaughter scratch his potential

MANILA, Philippines -- Barangay Ginebra fans marveled at young slotman Greg Slaughter’s strong start for the PBA’s 41st season. But conditioning and skills coach Kirk Collier is convinced that the big man out of Ateneo is barely scratching his potential in the pros.

The 6-foot-11 Slaughter opened the season-opening Philippine Cup with impressive stats line of 22.2 points, 15.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists--all career-high numbers on the way to taking the early lead in the Best Player of the conference derby.

“Greg is a person who is working hard to improve his weaknesses and make it his strength, and I’m kinda happy at this point, but to be honest, I think he probably understands that he’s just playing 55 to 60 percent of his potential,” Collier told Philstar.com.

Nonetheless, the American coach said Slaughter’s impressive start has a lot to do with the former PBA Rookie of the Year’s commitment to the game as he tries to help Ginebra end its seven-year title drought.

“In the offseason, he worked really hard on his strength, his core, his movement,” stressed Collier.

“A lot of people call him lazy all the time, but he’s the only player to stay both summers and work, and he didn’t go home (to the US to take a vacation),” he added.

The 54-year-old American, a product of South Carolina State, noted that Slaughter’s offseason work included pilates, a physical fitness system that puts premium on controlled movements, flexibility and endurance.

“Most 6-11, 270-pound players, they have limitations, but he (Slaughter) goes to different places and worked out, and he’s got extensive palatis program,” he said.

“He puts a lot of strength on his core. I know he’s not there yet, but he’s working to get there.”

As for Slaughter, his drive to improve has a lot to do with his desire to help Ginebra secure a spot in the playoffs under new coach Tim Cone.

“Our goal is to get as good position in playoffs as possible and we hope we continue to get better in the process,” explained the 27-year-old Ginebra big man.

“We got coach Tim, who’s such a great coach. We just got to keep getting better everyday.”

Ginebra, currently at seventh spot with its even 4-4 win-loss record, returns to action on Saturday when it faces Blackwater in Angeles City.