Slaughter out for rest of year due to ACL tear

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LOOKS like Greg Slaughter is done for the season.

In a comeback game last week where he was supposed to be broken in by coach Tim Cone, the 7-foot Barangay Ginebra cornerstone sustained a right ACL tear while playing just 10 minutes in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Making seven points that went with four rebounds, Slaughter suffered a bad fall in the fourth quarter and limped out of the floor, favoring his right knee.

“Greg’s injury, unfortunately, seems to be an ACL tear,” Cone said in a text message to media. “Once we get an official diagnosis, we will sit down with Greg and the doctors and determine the proper course of action, and whether surgery will be needed.”

Slaughter had just come back from a long layoff after undergoing surgery to correct an ankle injury.

Ginebra will gain the top ranking—and the lightest possible quarterfinal assignment—if it wins its final two games in the classification phase. The Gin Kings take on Phoenix Petroleum tomorrow and pacesetter TNT KaTropa on Sunday in Biñan, Laguna.

A loss in either game would relegate Ginebra to No. 2 at best and in a Final Four collision with defending champion San Miguel Beer.

Going into the final three playdates, only the last member of the top four remains to be determined, with Meralco surely to play any from among the Fuel Masters, Alaska or NLEX for the last twice-to-beat privilege.

Alaska and NLEX battle on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, with the winner advancing directly into a playoff with Meralco should Ginebra beat Phoenix tomorrow.