For first time as pro, Poligrates to dazzle Cebu fans

CEBU, Philippines - After signing a two-year contract with Talk 'N Txt, Cebuano hardcourt star Eliud Poligrates is now excited to dazzle his loyal fans for the first time as a pro, as he suits up for the  Tropang Texters versus the Meralco Bolts in one of the three opening games of 2013-14 PBA season that will be played simultaneously in Cebu, Manila and Davao this Sunday.

The Phone Pals will open their quest for a "Philippine Cup" four-feat against the Bolts at the Cebu Coliseum. Elswhere, the newly-crowned Governors Cup champion San Mig Coffee Mixers will take on the newlook Barangay Ginebra Kings at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, while Commissioner’s Cup title-holder Alaska Milk will square off against Rain or Shine at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) gym in Davao City.

"He (Poligrates) called me up informing me that he has already signed a two-year contract with Talk 'N Txt and that he's very excited to play before his fans here," said Van Halen Parmis, coach of the Tagum City-based CM Farm commercial ball club where Poligrates once played.

Parmis, who is also the assistant coach of reigning CESAFI basketball champs University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, said it's really something  to look forward to because Poligrates is well-loved and adored by fans here because of his super exciting style of play. An excellent playmaker, the Camotes Island-native sentinel is also a fearless penetrator and a prolific outside shooter, making him difficult to defend on one-on-one plays.

Poligrates was picked 27th overall by the Phone Pals during the annual PBA Draft last November 3 and he considered it as the brightest moment since his disheartening fall out from the CESAFI.

Poligrates was a star player of the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras in the CESAFI, but his stint with Cebu's premier inter-school league was short-lived after he was slapped with a lifetime banfor 'gross dishonesty."  He was found guilty for playing in another tournament while the CESAFI is still ongoing, a grave violation of the league rules.

So humiliated and frustrated Poligrates was that he thought of giving up the sport he loved most. It was only after he was given a new lease on life by the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños through coach Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba in the commercial circuit that he decided to open another chapter of his hoop career.

After donning the jerseys of  M. Lhuillier and the Misamis Oriental Meteors in the now defunct Liga Pilipinas, Poligrates saw action with CM Farm in a couple of out-of-town sorties in the Vis-Min region before the eventually ended up with the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns and Cafe France in the PBA D-League. That became his stepping stone towards a bigger and brighter opportunity of showcasing his talents in Asia's first play-of-pay league.

Tickets, priced at P150 for general admission, P400 for upperbox, P800 for lowerbox, P900 for stage and P1,000 for ringside (reserved seats), are sold at the Cebu Coliseum, Ila Puti in Cebu IT Park, and Fairchild Coop in MEPZ 1. The organizers will deliver for a minimum purchase of tickets. One may call 0922-8919334, 0927-3246676 or 0917-2436627 for reservations.

                For further details, one may keep in touch with 255-1405, 402-9419, 0923-9300850, 0939-7841404 or 0917-5273888.

Meanwhile, the  Philippine Cup, formerly known as the all-Filipino conference, calls for an inter-intra competition in the eliminations where competing teams play 14 games each. The top eight advance to the playoffs. (FREEMAN)