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Slaughter, Fajardo finally meet in PBA finals

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/07/24/07242018-pba-finals.jpg"/><figcaption>Ginebra&#x27;s Greg Slaughter and San Miguel&#x27;s June Mar Fajardo are facing off in a finals series for the first time since 2009. Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/pba/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – It is a rematch nine years in the making.Nearly a decade since they last faced off for a championship, premier big men June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter will once again battle in the biggest stage.Fajardo and the San Miguel Beermen are gunning for a second consecutive PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup title, while Slaughter and the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings are hoping to put a stop to their rivals&#x27; assault on the history books.Remarkably, this is the first time in their careers that Fajardo and Slaughter will meet in the PBA finals. San Miguel and Ginebra contested the All-Filipino Cup title last year, but Slaughter did not see action at all in that series due to a knee injury. The Beermen won the series in five games.&quot;The last time we got to play in the finals was all the way back in 2009,&quot; Slaughter reminisced, referring to the CESAFI finals nine years ago when he led University of the Visayas to the crown at the expense of Fajardo and the University of Cebu (UC).&quot;It&#x27;s good just to be able to face off in the largest stage, the finals, where all the marbles count,&quot; he added. &quot;It brings back good memories of our home in Cebu. That&#x27;s where we played, that&#x27;s where we&#x27;re from.&quot;&quot;We were young then – 19-, 18-year-olds playing in the finals against each other. We&#x27;ve come a long way, and it&#x27;s exciting to do that again.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/pba/news/2018/07/24/pba-showdown-june-mar-personal-says-slaughter-44876">READ: Showdown with June Mar not personal says Slaughter</a></li></ul>Fajardo still carries plenty of memories from that finals series nine years ago, where he and UC lost in four games to Slaughter&#x27;s squad. &quot;Talo kami,&quot; he said bluntly on Tuesday when asked what he remembered from that finals match-up.&quot;Sobrang hirap kami sa kanila,&quot; he added. &quot;Sobrang lakas nila noon.&quot;A lot has changed since that match-up in Cebu. Fajardo has turned into a four-time Most Valuable Player in the PBA, the anchor of San Miguel&#x27;s dominant run. Slaughter, meanwhile, is trying to overcome a slew of injuries in hopes of fulfilling his massive potential.Fajardo, who is on track to win a seventh Best Player of the Conference award, can only count his blessings even as he braces for his showdown against Slaughter.&quot;Nakakatuwa lang, kasi parang hindi mo akalain na makarating kami dito, and then ngayon, andito na kami, tapos magkaharap ulit kami,&quot; he said. &quot;Sobrang blessed kami na nandito kami sa sitwasyon na ito.&quot;&quot;For sure, matutuwa &#x27;yung mga taga-Cebu, kasi nga nagkaharap kami ni Greg ngayon. Parang mare-reminisce nila &#x27;yung CESAFI days namin,&quot; he added. &quot;Ganoon din ako. Naaalala ko rin &#x27;yung mga games namin sa Cebu.&quot;As dominant as they were back in Cebu, neither Fajardo nor Slaughter had memorable performances in UV&#x27;s series-clinching victory over UC back in 2009. Slaughter was limited to six points, while Fajardo had seven when the Lancers defeated the Webmasters, 75-62, to secure the CESAFI title.Both players are promising that this time around, they will be putting up their best efforts.&quot;It&#x27;s a tough match-up, and a huge obstacle to overcome, but I&#x27;m not making it as a personal match-up,&quot; said Slaughter. &quot;It&#x27;s a team match-up. At the end of the day, we&#x27;re both trying to win a championship.&quot;&quot;As competitors, we&#x27;re here to compete,&quot; he added. &quot;It&#x27;s another opportunity to compete against each other.&quot;&quot;For sure, ibibigay ni Greg &#x27;yung best niya,&quot; said Fajardo, for his part. &quot;Then ako, siyempre ako ibibigay ko din &#x27;yung best ko.&quot;Game 1 of the best-of-7 finals is on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

Slaughter, Fajardo finally meet in PBA finals

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Slaughter, Fajardo finally meet in PBA finals

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 24, 2018 07:21 PM PHT

Read More:

PBA

PBA Commissioner's Cup

Barangay Ginebra

San Miguel Beer

June Mar Fajardo

Greg Slaughter

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