IT’S ONE and one for defending Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup champion Barangay Ginebra.
As main big man Greg Slaughter makes his return from almost a year-long absence due to his ACL tear, the Gin Kings have to deal with the impending absence of another critical big, Joe Devance.
Devance is set to finally undergo surgery on his ailing foot to fix his Plantar Fasciitis once and for all.
The versatile veteran chose to postpone his surgery to help Ginebra in its campaign in the Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup.
He attained the injury midway the opening conference.
Devance is expected to miss at least one month, meaning he’ll miss out on the Gin Kings’ first couple of games.
However, Slaughter, who has been out since late last season after tearing his ACL in the middle of Ginebra’s title run in the Governors’ Cup, is back in harness and is slowly but surely being injected into the thick of the team’s system.
He’s been participating in scrimmages and tune-up games already and is ready to go and help the Kings defend their crown.
The return of Slaughter will give Ginebra a lot of ceiling with prolific import Justin Brownlee and athletic big man Japeth Aguilar still in tow.
The Governors’ Cup starts next week on July 19.