Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Greg Slaughter, left, and San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo are bound to leave a gaping hole in the middle with their absence. (MB photo)
By WAYLON GALVEZ
For the first time in years, the Philippine Basketball Association will open its 45th Season without the two ‘giants’ of the game in June Mar Fajardo or San Miguel Beer and Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo, the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP), had surgery after suffering a broken right shin. He could miss not just SMB’s bid for a six-peat in the season opening Philippine Cup but the entire season.
The 7-foot Slaughter, for his part, has yet to come to terms with his mother team after his contract expired last month.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said that without the ‘centers of attraction’ he anticipates some difficulty in luring fans to the game since both players have their respective fan base.
“Regarding sa pagkawala ni June Mar and Greg… hindi pa naman natin alam yung kay Greg, pero yung kay June Mar malaking bagay sa atin yun,” said Marcial during Thursday’s PBA Media Day at Okada in Pasay City.
“Isa siya sa superstars natin, five-time MVP. Ang laki niya humatak ng crowd. So maa-apektuhan talaga tayo.”
In Slaughter’s case, he has yet to communicate with Ginebra after announcing that he was taking a break from playing before leaving for the States.
Ginebra has until the end of February to make an offer to the Fil-Am center in order to keep the rights to his services.
“Yung kay Greg, parang kay [Rabah] Al-Hussaini yan, matagal na nawala, tapos ang rights pa rin nasa Meralco,” said Marcial, referring to a similar incident between the Bolts and Al-Hussaini, who eventually returned to the PBA and was then dealt to NLEX
A source said Ginebra has already sent an offer to Slaughter.
Without the two players, Marcial said he hopes PBA fans will continue supporting their respective teams since he expects the games to be exciting as the league formally opens its 45th season on March 8.
“Sana nga maipakita natin yung magagandang games. Pero malaking bagay talaga sina June Mar and Greg sa atin. Ganoon pa man, sana suportahan pa rin tayo ng fans ngayong malapit na tayo mag-open,” he said.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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