AFTER winning the Best Player of the Conference award last week, Greg Slaughter struggled in two successive games in the finals of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
But when it mattered most, he showed everyone why he’s the BPC as he came up big when Barangay Ginebra needed him.
With control of the finals at stake, Slaughter was called upon by Gin Kings coach Tim Cone to be a bigger factor and he didn’t disappoint.
Cone, in a change of ploy, suddenly inserted Slaughter in the starting line-up for the first time in the series against Meralco and that proved to be a difference.
At one point in the third quarter, Cone even talked to Slaughter one-on-one to squeeze what he can from the 7-foot giant and the latter responded emphatically.
Slaughter unleashed 17 points and 15 rebounds to help the Gin Kings take Game 5, 85-74, Sunday night and more importantly move closer to winning the championship, having a 3-2 lead now.
“I needed to step-up. We all needed to step-up because we treated this last game as a do-or-die for us,” said Slaughter.
He also credited his teammates for helping him get back on track after two sub-par showings in Games 3 and 4, which Ginebra both lost.
“My teammates were able to help me out as well to play better by putting me in positions where I can be more effective,” said Slaughter, whose comeback from an ACL injury that sidelined him for almost a year, is phenomenal.
Now, he looks forward to once again help his team in its bid to finish off Meralco in Game 6 tomorrow.
“We need to have this same hunger for us to close out. We’ll be ready,” said Slaughter.
Game 6 of the series will again be held at the Philippine Arena in Bocuae, Bulacan.
Tickets for the said game are available at Ticketnet and SM outlets.
The PBA Commissioner’s Office also announced that free rides will be provided to fans coming from the metro. Rides will be on a first come-first serve basis.
The Jam terminals in Buendia and Cubao have been designated as the pick-up and drop-off points. Departures for the Philippine Arena are as follows: Buendia terminal (1:40 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 3:15 p.m) and Cubao Terminal ( 2:20 p.m., 240 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:20 p.m., 3:40 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:20 p.m. and 4:40 p.m.).