Greg Slaughter expressed high hopes for his PBA career despite his sudden trade from Barangay Ginebra to NorthPort, saying his “best basketball” is still ahead of him.

Slaughter ended his six-season stint with Ginebra as the team dealt him to NorthPort in exchange for fellow big man Christian Standhardinger.

“[I] am truly excited for this new adventure and for the next chapter in my story to begin,” Slaughter wrote on his social media accounts.

“I still have my best basketball ahead of me.”

The seven-foot center entered the PBA as the No. 1 overall pick of Ginebra in the 2013 draft.

Slaughter won 4 championships with Ginebra, netted the Rookie of the Year plum in 2014, earned a First Mythical Team selection in 2015, and scored a Best Player of the Conference award in 2017.

He also made the All-Star team 5 times.

Slaughter took a break from basketball after helping Ginebra win the 2019-2020 Governors’ Cup crown as he returned to the United States following the expiration of his contract.

While Slaughter signed a new contract with Ginebra in February, the team eventually shipped him to NorthPort for Standhardinger.

“Although I am saddened to know that my journey with them has officially come to an end, from the first pick in the draft to All-Star and multiple championships, I will always look back fondly at the time I spent there.”

Slaughter vowed never to let his supporters down as he begins a new chapter in his career with NorthPort. (READ: Standhardinger-Slaughter deal reminds Cone of Fernandez-Guidaben trades)

“I have so much left to give the game and just as blessed as ever to play the game I love in front of all the fans who have been with me through it all, no matter what jersey I wear,” he said.

“Sa lahat ng patuloy at walang sawang sumusuporta sa akin, taos puso akong nagpapasalamat. Pinapangako ko sa inyo na hindi ko kayo bibiguin.”

(To everyone who continues to support me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I promise not to disappoint all of you.)

– Rappler.com