Eagles' 6-11 rookie slaughtered them

MANILA, Philippines - The big man provided the huge difference for Ateneo’s successful four-peat quest in UAAP Season 74.

Greg Slaughter, the 6-11 transferee from University of the Visayas and Smart Gilas Pilipinas mainstay whose eligibility was put into question prior to the opening matches, was a pillar of strength for the Blue Eagles, coach Norman Black readily admitted.

“I know Ray Ray Parks won the (Season) MVP (honors) but for us, Greg is our MVP,” said Black of his prized recruit, whose stint in the 2011 cage wars was only cleared via a 4-3 vote by the UAAP board a couple of days before hostilities commenced.

Slaughter normed 13.29 points, 7.29 rebounds, 1.88 blocks and 1.35 assist in 17 games with the Eagles.

“He (Slaughter) may not have the monster numbers of others but he attracts so much attention that he makes his team so much better,” said Black, a proponent of team game.

“And I’m very happy for Greg because he was able to buy into the system in a very short period of time. He understood that he was surrounded by good players and he just had to do his role to be successful with this team,” he added.

Slaughter transferred to Ateneo in 2010 after steering the UV Lancers to three successive Cesafi crowns and spent the year in residency. His concurrent stint with Gilas in the PBA became a source of debate prior to the start of the UAAP Season 74 but the board eventually allowed him to suit up for the Eagles last July.

“Throughout my college career I was winning so this title’s going to mean so much to me,” said Slaughter. “I didn’t want to come here and disappoint. They took me with open arms, it worked and now we’re here.”

The 23-year-old Slaughter still has one year of eligibility yet but appears non-committal for another tour-of-duty for Ateneo as of now.

“We’ll see,” is all he can say.