THOUGHTS | THE WHOLE GREG SLAUGHTER SITUATION

Hmm. Titan Ultra looks hella shady on this one.

But, then again...

Anyway, reports surfaced online that Greg Slaughter had signed with the Giant Risers. For weeks leading up to the start of the Commissioner’s Cup, fans were looking forward to Gregzilla helping the team in some capacity. And honestly, they need the help—especially considering the team has been losing by an average of 31.5 points in their defeats.

When the PBA released the opening-day rosters, and Slaughter’s name wasn’t listed, the whole “silent ban” issue resurfaced. This supposed ban revolves around aging superstars who can still produce at around 50 percent of their peak but somehow can’t find a team willing to sign them.

Now, I’m 50–50 on this. I don’t think this silent ban is an official mandate from the commissioner’s office. It feels more like an unspoken agreement among team owners and executives. The fact that Mikey Williams was able to return to the PBA despite all his baggage proves that if a team truly wants a player, neither the league nor the other teams can really stop it.

I know the so-called silent ban is supposedly about team owners banding together to teach certain players a lesson, but it also revolves around the players’ own actions before their careers hit a detour. When a player starts acting like he’s untouchable, it’s only natural for team owners to respond in an FAFO kind of way.

Look, players can say whatever they want about a team—how it’s trash or how management never really wanted to win—but at the end of the day, it’s still the team’s choice how they operate. Meanwhile, players have to deal with Father Time and the limited window of opportunities given to them.

If a player’s attitude becomes too much to handle, teams can simply cut ties, quietly derail his career, and replace him with someone earning half the salary who’s hungry enough to go all out on the court and eventually become the league’s next big superstar.

In an interview with the Bilyonaryo News Channel, Commissioner Willie Marcial even said that Titan Ultra had not formally informed the league that they had signed the former Best Player of the Conference winner. When I first heard that, I couldn’t help but think that maybe other team owners discouraged Titan Ultra from pushing through with the signing.

But then again, if you look at what happened with Terrafirma and the addition of Geo Chiu, all it really takes is a capable big man to stabilize the frontcourt. Chiu may not be dominant, but he’s been enough to keep them competitive.

I’m not saying Slaughter is Titan’s gift from heaven, but he’s pretty close to it. After Titan Ultra import Michael Gilmore, the Giant Risers’ next highest rebounder is Cade Flores, who averages just four boards per game. Compare that to Terrafirma, where Chiu is pulling down around 12 rebounds in three games, with three other players also contributing in that range, apart from Ali Mubashar.

So yes, I do think there’s some form of silent ban on former superstars. But I also believe there’s something else going on between Titan Ultra and Greg Slaughter.

For one, Titan Ultra might simply be tanking. And Slaughter himself may still need time to get back into game shape. There’s also the possibility that Slaughter turned down the offer to play, but I honestly doubt that. Titan Ultra likely still holds his rights since he last played for NorthPort before leaving due to a contract dispute and heading to Japan afterward.

Slaughter is also turning 38 this May. Yes, he’s still a seven-foot attraction, but judging by his recent career moves, I doubt he’s in a position to be overly picky.

It could also be a case of Titan Ultra getting cold feet because of his limitations. Slaughter averaged 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds in the MPBL while splitting time between Manila and Basilan, but he only played in 18 games over two seasons. That limited action raises legitimate concerns about his conditioning and durability.

Maybe Slaughter himself isn’t in a rush to return, even if he did visit the team during their Commissioner’s Cup preparations. Or maybe Titan Ultra realized that signing a 38-year-old center who hasn’t played consistently in recent years—especially on a sizable contract—doesn’t align with a team that appears committed to tanking.

In many ways, Titan Ultra seems to be following the same playbook Converge used when they tanked to secure better draft assets for the following season. As an expansion franchise, Titan Ultra has a bit more leeway to absorb losses without facing as much backlash.

Ironically, one of the reasons Slaughter left NorthPort in the first place was because he felt the team had no intention of winning. Titan Ultra might be operating under that same reality this season—though perhaps with plans to compete seriously afterward.

So for now, Slaughter may be simply working his way back into shape, and maybe he eventually agrees to terms before the season ends. Because here’s the thing: if Titan Ultra really has signed Slaughter, their priority should be getting him into game shape as soon as possible.

Greg Slaughter, even after a long layoff, is no Maurice Shaw. He’s a four-time PBA champion, and any inside presence he provides would immediately improve Titan Ultra’s frontcourt.

Still, Slaughter also needs to show that he’s fully committed. At this stage of his career, he has to convince not just Titan Ultra, but the entire PBA community, that he’s still here to compete—and not just to collect one last contract.