GREG Slaughter, the seven-foot basketball stalwart of the University of the Visayas Green (UV) Lancers, saw his basketball career catapulted to greater heights with several offers including an all-important stint with the Smart-Gilas RP team.

But Slaughter is taking it easy.

“He is not signing anything with Smart Gilas just yet. He decided to still train and play for the national team but also still maintain his scholarship with UV because according to him he wants to graduate,” said UV head coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

After towing UV to an unprecedented ninth straight title in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi), UV’s prized center, decided to take things slowly.

After UV agreed to let him go if he decided to suit up for the national team, it was expected that the Filipino-American would rush back to Manila to play for the Smart Gilas team in the PBA.

However, Slaughter extended his stay in Cebu and decided he wanted to finish school.

“He said he still wanted to play for UV next season and finish his accounting management course. This actually made us very happy not just because we will still have him in Cesafi next year, but because out of his own resolve, he chose this,” said Cabahug.

Cabahug said they have always made it a point that Slaughter is given a free hand at making decisions about his career.

“We are here to guide him. Sir Eddie (Gullas, UV president) was very impressed at how he weighed his options and made his decision because at least we know if he decided a career in basketball, he will already have a degree. And if he graduated with UV, we can really claim that he is a UV product,” said Cabahug.

“Basketball is temporary, really. If he has a degree then he has something to fall back on,” said Cabahug.

With Slaughter’s decision, the same regimen will be followed with him jetting back and forth Cebu and Manila, wherever his services are needed.