Barangay Ginebra San Miguel coach Tim Cone compared the Christian Standhardinger-Greg Slaughter trade to a celebrated swap that happened twice while expressing confidence that both players will benefit from the change of surroundings.
Cone said the deal which saw Ginebra getting Standhardinger from NorthPort in exchange for Slaughter draws comparisons to the two Ramon Fernandez-Abet Guidaben trades which occurred in 1985 and 1988.
“The trade reminds me of the old days when Mon Fernandez and Abet Guidaben would be traded for each other. Both premier big men with differing skills,” Cone said shortly after the PBA announced the trade Friday, March 5, 2021.
The first trade between two of the PBA’s greatest players happened in 1985 when Manila Beer decided to send reigning Most Valuable Player Fernandez to Tanduay in exchange for Guidaben.
Both players were again on the move three years later when Purefoods sent Fernandez to San Miguel Beer for Guidaben, who the previous season captured his second and final MVP plum.
Both Tanduay and San Miguel capitalized on the acquisition of Fernandez, leading the Rhum Masters to three titles between 1986 and 1987 and helping the Beermen bag seven championships between 1988 to 1994 highlighted by the 1989 Grand Slam.
Looking at the present and the future, Cone said that Slaughter is poised to make big things at NorthPort while seeing Standhardinger as a good fit for his squad.
“I believe Greg will go to NorthPort and put up much bigger numbers than he had at Ginebra and elevate that team. On the other hand, C-Stand's strengths will fit well with what Ginebra needs as a team,” Cone said.
“We certainly wish Greg all the best and thank him for the championships he brought to Ginebra, and we welcome C-Stan to the Ginebra family. I think the Gin fans will appreciate his style of play. He's a throwback to the Ginebra players of old.”