MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra center Greg Slaughter opened the 43rd season of the PBA on a high note, coming up with solid performances in back-to-back games to earn Player of the Week honors.

Slaughter scored 24 points on top of 12 rebounds and four blocks to lead Ginebra to an 89-78 victory over longtime rival Magnolia in the Manila Clasico on Christmas Day at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

The former Ateneo de Manila University big man was Ginebra's main weapon inside the paint, as his used his size and length over the shorter Magnolia defenders to lead the Gin Kings to their eighth straight Christmas Day win.

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Ginebra has lost only once in 11 Christmas Day games.

The 6-foot-11 Slaughter did not lose a step after the holiday break, as he contributed 18 points and nine boards while also registering five blocks in Ginebra's 104-97 come-from-behind win over GlobalPort last Sunday.

The pair of impressive performances helped Slaughter come away with the Player of the Week award, beating teammate LA Tenorio, Phoenix gunner Matthew Wright, rookie Jason Perkins and big man Doug Kramer, TNT's Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and Mo Tautuaa, San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot, and Blackwater's Mike DiGregorio and Mac Belo.

Ginebra will be gunning for its third straight win in the Philippine Cup when it battles Blackwater this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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