The do-or-die semifinal games inside the PBA bubble and the resumption of Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers have made Greg Slaughter feel the itch to get back on the hardcourt.
“Do or die game for Ginebra and FIBA Asia games for our #TeamPilipinas got me itching to play again so bad!” Slaughter tweeted Friday morning hours before seven hours of basketball games on television and online platforms.
Friday’s lineup of games are composed of TNT against Phoenix Super LPG followed by Ginebra opposite Meralco in a pair of Game 5s that will determine the finalists for the PBA Philippine Cup inside the Smart Clark Giga City bubble.
Gilas wraps up the busy day of basketball with the first of two Asia Cup Qualifiers matches against Thailand in Manama, Bahrain.
Filipinos haven’t seen three high profile games since the COVID-19 pandemic limited the activity of all sporting events, including PBA and Gilas.
For Slaughter, the wait is much longer after opting to train in the United States following Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s PBA Governors’ Cup title run that ended in mid-January.
Slaughter said last month that he has not ruled out the possibility of re-joining Ginebra while also expressing interest in suiting up for Gilas in the Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Gilas, however, opted to go with an all-amateur pool for the two games against Thailand under a bubble setup.