JUDGING from the amount of ticket requests that Talk ‘N Text guard Eliud Poligrates has received in the days leading up to his professional debut tomorrow at the Cebu Coliseum, it seems like the Cebuano is going to be in for a hero’s welcome.
Poligrates, the former King Cobra of Southwestern University, was selected 27th overall by the three-time defending Philippine Cup champions Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in the PBA Draft two weeks ago.
And as fate would have it, the Texters were penned in to open their season in the Queen City of the South against sister team Meralco Bolts.
Those developments left Poligrates in a scramble to purchase tickets, not just for family members and friends who are raring to witness his debut, but also for the mayor of the municipality of Poro, Camotes, which is his hometown.
“Sa kadaghan sa tickets na ako gipapalit, dili nako kahinumdom kung pila to kabuok,” Poligrates said. “Basta lapas pa to sa 50 ka tickets ang akong gipapalit. Mura ang mayor sa Poro, mutan-aw sad.”
Poligrates has been looked upon as a hoops legend here in Cebu dating back to his days as a fly-by-night commercial player before he was discovered and subsequently recruited to play for the Cobras in the Cesafi.
Now, after having risen from his fall from grace stemming from a lifetime suspension from the Cesafi that was slapped on him in 2009, Poligrates managed the expectations as he remained focused on just playing well for the Texters and coming away with a win.
“Hinaut unta, matagaan ta ug chance na makaduwa ug tarung aron makadaug mi,” he added.
Asked if he was nervous playing in his hometown after last seeing the Cebu Coliseum court in 2010 as a member of the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños of the defunct Liga Pilipinas, Poligrates let a little of his supreme confidence show. “Dili na man sad ta rookie aning duwaa.”