Tim Cone reacts to Greg Slaughter dropping by Ginebra practice

Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone was genuinely delighted when Greg Slaughter made a surprise visit to the Gin Kings’ practice facility inside the San Miguel Corp. complex in Pasig City on Tuesday.

“Really excited that he came to visit,” Cone told SPIN.ph after the impromptu reunion with the former Ginebra big man, which was captured in a photo Slaughter later shared on his Instagram Story.

Slaughter, the 7-foot center out of the University of the Visayas and Ateneo, was once a cornerstone of Ginebra’s frontcourt. Drafted first overall in the 2013 PBA Draft, he quickly lived up to his billing, helping the Kings capture multiple championships.

 His strong low-post presence and shot-blocking ability became vital pieces during the team’s resurgence under Cone. In 2017, he earned his lone PBA Best Player of the Conference award in the Governors’ Cup, solidifying his status as one of the premier big men in the league.

Although his departure from Ginebra via a trade with NorthPort for Christian Standhardinger in 2021 was far from amicable, Cone said it was refreshing to welcome the seven-footer back, this time to the team’s new state-of-the-art facility shared with sister squads San Miguel and Magnolia.

“Too bad the rest of Slaughter’s former teammates, including good friend Japeth Aguilar, weren’t around,” Cone noted.

LOOK: Greg Slaughter pays a visit to Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone at the San Miguel Corporation sports complex on Tuesday in Pasig City.

The 7-foot Slaughter played under Cone from 2015 to 2020 in Ginebra before he was shipped to NorthPort for Christian Standhardinger in… pic.twitter.com/aUPIrJFkb2

— NewsWatch Plus PH (@newswatchplusph) August 27, 2025

Cone added that he and his staff were in the middle of private workouts with PBA Rookie Draft hopefuls when Slaughter dropped by.

“We were looking at possible draftees [when he arrived],” Cone said.

But before fans could speculate about a reunion, the two-time grand slam-winning coach quickly tempered expectations. “Nothing in the works,” Cone stressed.

Still, Ginebra’s frontline depth has been an area of concern recently. With Standhardinger moving on and Isaac Go sidelined by injury since arriving from Terrafirma last season, the Gin Kings could use additional size.

As for Slaughter, he last suited up in Japan’s B.League with the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka before taking time away from professional basketball. 

While he has not played in the PBA since his stint with NorthPort, his visit to Ginebra sparked nostalgia among fans who fondly remember his years as part of the “Twin Towers” with Japeth Aguilar and as one of the faces of Ginebra’s return to championship glory.

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