Slaughter bares talks with Titan Ultra for PBA comeback

MANILA, Philippines — Greg Slaughter has had talks with the Titan Ultra Giant Risers for a possible return to the PBA, he bared.

Titan owns the rights to Slaughter, who is currently with the Zamboanga Valientes for their stint in the Dubai International Basketball Championship.

The 7-foot big man formerly played for the then-NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA. He last played in the league back in 2021, before he took his talents to the Japan B.League and the MPBL.

Speaking to reporters during the Valientes’ last training in the Philippines earlier in the week, Slaughter confirmed having talks with the squad.

“I'm not sure yet. Not totally. I've had a little bit of talks with the management of the team that holds my rights. Hopefully after I get back from here, we can continue those talks,” he said.

“I’ll see where I am because coming back to the PBA is definitely something I'd love to do,” he added.

The center has won four PBA titles with Barangay Ginebra.

But after just one season with NorthPort, Slaughter did not re-sign with NorthPort as he played for the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka in the Japan B.League.

“Yeah, absolutely [I plan on returning to the PBA.] We're pretty settled in here now as a family. It'd just be nice, especially for my eldest daughter, she's about to be four. She's kind of really understanding things. It'd be really nice to have her see her dad out there,” he said.

“There was so much basketball I did before even having kids. It's just something I'd like to share even a couple years with them now.”

In a statement last year, Slaughter said he has “missed playing for the fans and competing in the top-level basketball league in the Philippines.”

“It is my dream to come back, and it is my dream for my family to see me proud of playing in the home court. I want my wife and children to watch me play basketball in the PBA again.”

But for now, Slaughter competes in Dubai with the Valientes, an experience he described as a full-circle moment.

He said he also played in the same tournament before with Gilas Pilipinas, “when we were just young 20-year-olds.”

“When I was young, I had some pretty good veterans so I want to pay that forward to being a veteran myself now. We got a lot of young guys, a lot of young talents, especially some guys coming out of Zamboanga. As much as I can, I just want to share everything I learned and try to pass that on to them,” he said.

“I know a lot of the young guys are probably nervous and for them, it's a lot of their first time being abroad. Like I said, some of these teams are pretty big so I just want to make sure they're relaxed. When they're relaxed, they can really bring out their real game and show the skills that they got.”

Slaughter shores up a frontline filled with veterans such as former PBA ballers Terrence Romeo, Rudy Lingganay, Vic Manuel, Mike Tolomia and Barkley Ebona.

The Valientes are also led by former NBA first overall pick Anthony Bennett.