Eliud Poligrates shows up for the Cebu City Sharks tryouts at the Capitol Parish Gym. CDN Digital photo | Jonas Panerio
Cebu City, Philippines — Cebuano basketball fans were thrilled upon learning of the re-emergence of flashy guard Eliud Poligrates during the start of the tryouts for the Cebu City Sharks on Monday, April 1, 2019, at the Capitol Parish Gym.
But just where has the former Southwestern University (SWU) product been the last few years?
After getting drafted 27th overall in the 2013 PBA Draft by Talk N Text, the Poro-native bounced around the league and last played in the PBA in 2015 before suiting up for Euro-Med in the Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League in 2016.
Not long after, Poligrates fell off the map. Now, at 31 years of age, the fan-favorite revealed that he wasn’t really sure of trying out for the Sharks but got prodded by messages from fans and supporters alike.
Read more: Who showed up for the Cebu City Sharks tryouts?
“Wala man ko kabalo about aning tryout. Daghan lang nag-send sa akoa sa mga detalye about this. Sige sila ug ingon na kaya pa lage nako muduwa at this level based sa ila makita na duwa sa kanang panalay,” shared Poligrates in a sit-down talk with Cebu Daily News.
“Kumbaga, ginabuhat ko ni for them kay wa jud sila muundang ug suporta sa akoa maski atong mga oras na galisud ko,” the flamboyant but enigmatic guard said.
Poligrates shared that after his playing days in Manila, he dealt with personal issues and lay low, away from the basketball spotlight. He only got back to playing around a year ago, said Poligrates.
When asked if he is willing to make adjustments in order to fit in to this young Sharks squad, Poligrates assured this writer that he had no problem with doing that and of proving himself all over again.
“Nigikan na man ta ug in-ani. Kabalo nako what it takes to play at this high-level. Karon, naa pa akong conditioning sa mga 50% pero tagai rakog mga usa ka buwan, mapasaka na nako ni to around 70%,” Poligrates said.
Still, it’s no guarantee that Poligrates will crack the roster of the Sharks, especially with the amount of talent that he is up against during the tryouts.
But regardless of where he stands, Poligrates said that he will no doubt give his all to earn another shot at high-level basketball. /bmjo