For many years, the name of Greg Slaughter has been closely associated to June Mar Fajardo as the two big men transcended their rivalry from college all the way to the pro hoops in the Philippine Basketball Association.
While Slaughter, who was then playing for the University of the Visayas Lancers, won three straight championships in the CESAFI and appeared to have a more illustrious career during their collegiate days, it was Fajardo who became the PBA’s most dominant force when the two players embarked on a professional career.
Fajardo went on to win the Most Valuable Player award seven times on top of capturing 10 PBA championships.
Slaughter, on the other hand, became a four-time PBA champion while playing for Barangay Ginebra, but had some sort of falling out with the team, hence he got traded to NorthPort and played for the Batang Pier briefly before he decided to strut his stuff in the Japan B. League where he played for the Rizing Zephry Fukuoka in the Division 2.
The seven-foot Slaughter has made his return to the local pro circuit, this time with MPBL team Manila Stars.
Much is expected on Gregzilla as he is expected to dominate the league as soon as he returns to peak form, but the MPBL has turned out to be a highly-competitive league and has become a second-tier level when it comes to the quality of games, next to the PBA, Asia’s pioneering professional basketball league.
In the MPBL, one man stands out as probably the closest who could match up pound for pound with Slaughter — reigning champion Justin Baltazar and the talent-laden Pampanga Giant Lanterns.
Baltazar has become the yardstick among the big men playing in the MPBL.
The 6-foot-8 center, who played for Gilas Pilipinas a few years ago, has been eagerly awaited by teams in the PBA to join the Rookie Draft, but he spent the past two years playing in the MPBL under the team of his benefactor Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda.
Whether Baltazar joins the PBA or not remains to be seen, but for now, fans of both Manila and Pampanga as well as supporters of the biggest basketball tournament in terms of participation look forward to the highly-anticipated gigantic battle between Gregzilla and Balti.
MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes couldn’t help, but feel excited on this much-awaited duel.
“Aabangan ng mga MPBL fans yan. Mas lalong magiging exciting ang mga games and fans will look forward to it,” wrote Duremdes via Messenger.
Of course, the front court battle between Slaughter and Baltazar serves as a centerpiece duel, but in terms of team concept, powerhouse squads like Quezon, San Juan and Nueva Ecija, teams that have yet to lose a game, will rely on everyone instead of anyone, which is why they still continue to dominate the league.
How can they prepare against a Slaughter or a Baltazar will definitely challenge the skill set of the coaches in terms of game preparation and adjustment.
But for now, fans had already set their minds on something they can look forward to and that is the biggest battle set to unfold in the history of the MPBL.
There’s a better reason for MPBL fans to feel excited and stay connected to the league called as Liga Ng Bawat Pilipino.
