Slaughter hits back against bashers on Twitter while Chot lauds volunteers

After getting backlash online after pulling out of the Gilas Pilipinas training pool, Greg Slaughter also used social media to send out his rebuttals.

“For all the bashers: please remember Marcio [Lassiter] and I have proudly served the national team for four years straight. I even did everything I could in practice to help Gilas prepare for the World championship qualifier last August,” his series of tweets started. “While I have received a lot of supportive feedback, I am saddened to see how hateful some of my fellow countrymen have reacted to my decision while even some going as far as continuously expressing their hate online directly towards me or indirectly.”

Slaughter then reiterated that his pulling out of the pool was to allow the 12 original members to keep their slots.

“The last thing I wanted was distractions to our national team. Instead of wasting our energy and being negative. We should use our energy to show support to the 12 and coach Chot Reyes who has brought glory to our country by qualifying for the world championships after 50 years,” Slaughter continued. “I see no one more deserving than the 12 to go to Spain and play in this possible once in a lifetime opportunity. God willing I will play for the national team again as I have always been honored for the opportunity to represent the country I have called my home for the past seven years.”

“Thank you, God bless and #LabanPilipinas.”

Jerlyn Lassiter, wife of Marcio Lassiter, also tweeted a message from her husband regarding the controversial issue.

For his part, Gilas head coach Chot Reyes also replied to some tweets sent to him by Filipino basketball fans. He proudly took a screen shot of a message sent to him by Talk ‘N Text forward Kelly Williams who is still out of commission due to health issues but is willing to help out.

“I felt it is right, out of respect to you and the flag to offer myself to the team to help in any capacity you might seem fit,” Williams wrote in a message that Reyes made public.

Immediately after the two Gilas reinforcements pulled out, Rob Reyes, a center for the Tropang Texters, also expressed his willingness to help out the team even if it was just “to hold the pad and bang bigs.”

Danny Seigle also threw his two cents with a post in Instagram.

The issue is currently causing division among Filipino basketball fans; a tragedy after Gilas brought the whole country together during their magical FIBA Asia run.