From Green to Blue: Ateneo snares UV's Slaughter

Ateneo has found Rabeh al-Hussaini’s replacement. The two-time UAAP defending champion Blue Eagles snared one of the biggest catch this pre-season when 6-foot-11 slotman Greg Slaughter decided to enroll in Ateneo this summer. No less than long-time Blue Eagle supporter Manny V. Pangilinan made the announcement during Friday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan in Padre Faura. "Slaughter is enrolling this summer and will serve the residency rule for Ateneo," said Pangilinan. "More than the talent of this player, I believe he’s doing well academically that is why Ateneo is a good choice." Under the UAAP rules, transferees should complete a one-year residency while a two-year residency is being imposed to foreign student-players. Slaughter will sit out his junior year with the Eagles and is expected to play for Ateneo in the Season 74. He is expected to be the cornerstone of a Blue and White crew that will have Eric Salamat and Ryan Buenafe as Ateneo’s backcourt duo. A former University of Visayas stalwart, Slaughter was one of those seriously considered to join the national team aspirants of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman. He got the nod of the FIBA Asia Champion coach after steering the Green Lancers to their third straight title in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI). Slaughter will join the Gilas squad in its next training at the Abunassar Institute of Sports, an institute also attended by NBA superstars Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz and Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets from April 22 to 30. The team is also set to play in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in May, the William Jones Cup in July and other various pocket tournaments that would prepare them for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in November. – Rey Joble, GMANews.TV