NorthPort opted to sideline Greg Slaughter against NLEX as it gears up for the homestretch of its playoff hunt in the PBA Philippine Cup.

Although Slaughter left a gaping hole in the middle, his absence may have given NorthPort an edge as NorthPort rolled to its third straight win with a 96-94 escape over NLEX on Sunday, September 12.

“They probably focused 80% of their game preparation on Greg,” said NorthPort team manager Bonnie Tan, who is currently stepping in as coach for Pido Jarencio. “So that might have helped us.”

Slaughter, who got ejected in their previous game against Terrafirma following his flagrant foul on Roosevelt Adams, sat out against NLEX due to pain on his hips.

But Tan said it was nothing serious and the big man is not injured.

“We decided to sit him for our next games,” Tan said.

A weakness, though, that has been exploited against a NorthPort crew without the seven-foot Slaughter is its rebounding.

The top rebounding team in the league with an average of 52.7 boards prior, NorthPort hauled down just 43 caroms against NLEX.

NLEX, meanwhile, dominated the rebounding department with 60 boards, 24 of which came from the offensive end.

“We miss his rebounding,” Tan said of Slaughter. “If felt like we were not the No. 1 [rebounding team]. That was what the team pointed out as our problem – NLEX had too many second chances.”

As Slaughter is expected to return, NorthPort looks to remain unbeaten in Bacolor, Pampanga as it aims to improve its 4-3 record. – Rappler.com