Slaughter, Lassiter beg off from Gilas

TWO OF the five new additions to the Gilas Pilipinas pool— Greg Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter—have announced their withdrawal from the national squad last night due to personal reasons.

The 7-foot Slaughter faced the media before Barangay Ginebra’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup debut against Barako Bull, saying he was honored to be part of the pool but felt that he does not deserve a slot in the squad that will play in the World Cup in Spain in August.

“I know the feeling of people coming in to something you’ve already started,” Slaughter said. “I think what they started back in August, those 12 should be the ones to go on and represent the country.

“I just feel like it’s right that the people who started that, they worked so hard, I think they deserve this.”

Lassiter was to make his announcement at press time, and the 6-4 San Miguel Beer forward would cite health reasons for declining the invitation.

Injury-plagued the last two PBA seasons, Lassiter, according to an Inquirer source, is worried that another tour of duty with the Philippine team would not help his professional career in the long haul.

With Slaughter and Lassiter begging off, the pool has been reduced to 15 men, with the only new additions being Paul Lee and Beau Belga of Rain or Shine and Jared Dillinger of Meralco.

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