Ginebra’s Slaughter goes full circle in return, cops first PBA BPC plum

MANILA, Philippines — After being off the grid for nearly a year, Barangay Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter is getting a much-needed recognition to his game.

After making a compelling case since his return, the Gin Kings big man was named the Best Player of the Conference of the PBA on Sunday night.

Slaughter, who garnered 975 total votes, beat co-finalist Chris Newsome from the Meralco Bolts side who collected a far 707.

The citation, which is the first in the 6-foot-11 center’s four-year career, comes at a time when he is currently scripting a career comeback. A torn right knee ligament shut him down since September of 2016.

June Mar Fajardo, a cinch for a historic four-straight Most Valuable Player award, fell to just third after San Miguel Beer was eliminated early in the playoffs. The Cebuano star drew 617 total votes.

Jayson Castro of TNT KaTropa and Arwind Santos, also of the Beermen, landed in the fourth and fifth spots with 440 and 371 votes, respectively.