PBA: Slaughter extra careful
Published Apr 13, 2018 12:00 am
by Jonas Terrado
Greg SlaughterGreg Slaughter is taking a more-detailed approach in his recovery from a sprained right ankle as he hopes to make his return during Barangay Ginebra's campaign in the PBA Commissioner's Cup which starts later this month.
Slaughter has been limited to non-contact drills since the Kings resumed practice several weeks ago while currently undergoing a four-week program with strength and conditioning coach Paul Mendoza to ensure he can come back without any hitches.
The Commissioner’s Cup will start on April 22 but Ginebra won’t see action until the 29th when it plays Rain or Shine at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I just wanna make sure that I’m entering this conference 100 percent so nothing will build on itself, you know, don’t want any nagging injuries lingering that could lead to something bigger,” Slaughter said after yesterday’s practice.
The 7-foot center was forced to miss the Philippine Cup playoffs last month after hurting his ankle late in the eliminations, an injury he later described as the “worst sprain I ever had.”
Slaughter certainly wants to be as healthy as he can, given the multiple injuries that hounded him the past three seasons.
He underwent surgery to remove bone spurs on his right ankle in 2016, but was forced to miss nine months later that year after tearing his right knee during a Governors’ Cup game.
Slaughter also missed several games at the midway point of this season's Philippine Cup eliminations because of a hamstring injury.
The former University of the Visayas and Ateneo star initially thought that the ankle would recover as quick as usual, but was given the bad news by renowned sports doctor Raul Canlas after several tests.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone had hinted the possibility of Slaughter returning during the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine and in the semifinal series with San Miguel but eventually decided not to risk the long-term health of his five-year center.
“I was really believing, expecting to be back in the playoffs but it was a just more severe sprain that I was accustomed to,” Slaughter said. “Usually with sprains, I can stomp it off and play and maybe a couple of days I can come back and play, but it was the worst sprain I ever had.”
Greg SlaughterGreg Slaughter is taking a more-detailed approach in his recovery from a sprained right ankle as he hopes to make his return during Barangay Ginebra's campaign in the PBA Commissioner's Cup which starts later this month.
Slaughter has been limited to non-contact drills since the Kings resumed practice several weeks ago while currently undergoing a four-week program with strength and conditioning coach Paul Mendoza to ensure he can come back without any hitches.
The Commissioner’s Cup will start on April 22 but Ginebra won’t see action until the 29th when it plays Rain or Shine at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I just wanna make sure that I’m entering this conference 100 percent so nothing will build on itself, you know, don’t want any nagging injuries lingering that could lead to something bigger,” Slaughter said after yesterday’s practice.
The 7-foot center was forced to miss the Philippine Cup playoffs last month after hurting his ankle late in the eliminations, an injury he later described as the “worst sprain I ever had.”
Slaughter certainly wants to be as healthy as he can, given the multiple injuries that hounded him the past three seasons.
He underwent surgery to remove bone spurs on his right ankle in 2016, but was forced to miss nine months later that year after tearing his right knee during a Governors’ Cup game.
Slaughter also missed several games at the midway point of this season's Philippine Cup eliminations because of a hamstring injury.
The former University of the Visayas and Ateneo star initially thought that the ankle would recover as quick as usual, but was given the bad news by renowned sports doctor Raul Canlas after several tests.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone had hinted the possibility of Slaughter returning during the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine and in the semifinal series with San Miguel but eventually decided not to risk the long-term health of his five-year center.
“I was really believing, expecting to be back in the playoffs but it was a just more severe sprain that I was accustomed to,” Slaughter said. “Usually with sprains, I can stomp it off and play and maybe a couple of days I can come back and play, but it was the worst sprain I ever had.”