Chua on why Slaughter wasn’t offered a new contract: “Hindi kami ang lalapit”

San Miguel Corp. sports director and Brgy. Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua explained to members of the press the reason behind the non-renewal of Greg Slaughter’s contract which expired last January.

Breaking his silence of the matter which apparently forced the 31-year old Fil-Am to take a leave of absence from the team and from the league, Chua bared the management’s side of the story during the 2020 PBA season press launch at the Conrad Hotel.

“Ang daming nagsasabi, we didn’t offer a contract,” explained Chua. “Alam niyo, sa basketball, PBA or sa corporate, kapag expired ang contract mo, ikaw ang lalapit sa team. You are going to ask, expired na ako, baka puwede akong mag-renew. Hindi kami ang lalapit para tanungin kung irerenew ka namin. Sa dami ng players, hindi namin malalaman.”

“Hindi ko naman nakausap si Greg. Nakausap niya si coach Tim (Cone) when he left. Hindi niya ako nakausap. Hindi niya nakausap ang management. Nagsabi si Tim na gusto raw magpahinga so nasa sa kanya yun. Gusto niya magpahinga. But again, kami, nung umalis siya about sa contract-contract na ganun, nag-champion kami sabay-sabay. After a week, or a week and a half, ‘yung mga player, nagpuntahan sa opisina para mag-renew,” added the 54-year old former Gin Kings mentor.

Chua also denied reports that the 7-footer was about to be shipped to NorthPort in exchange for last conference’s Best Player Christian Standhardinger.

“Kung hindi galing sa amin, wag kayo maniwala. May nangyayari na rumor daw, ite-trade daw, may rumor daw na walang kontrata. Paano magkaka-kontrata eh naglalaro pa. Kung may trade rumor, punta kayo ng PBA kung may sinubmit kami na trade form.”