THE relationship between the Southwestern University and the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) continues to erode.
Southwestern University SWU’s participation in the city’s premiere collegiate basketball league hinges on the board’s decision to lift the lifetime ban.
“It depends on the appeal. Should the board reconsider, well and good. If not, we may have to think of other options to fight this,” said SWU athletic director Ryan Aznar.
Poligrates is SWU’s star guard who was slapped with a lifetime ban after lying to Commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy about playing in an unsanctioned tournament while the Cesafi tournament was still ongoing, a violation of the Cesafi rule.
For “gross dishonesty” he was banned for life during the whirlwind controversial ninth season.
Poligrates played in another tournament after SWU was eliminated from the Cesafi.
However SWU was given its second chance when the University of San Carlos’ quarterfinal win over SWU was forfeited when its team captain Paul Joven committed the same infraction.
“Poligrates’ initial reaction was to deny it. He was after all under the impression that SWU’s Cesafi stint was over after we were eliminated. But we at SWU believe the sanction is too harsh,” said Aznar.
Aznar also compared the case of Poligrates to that of Wynne Arboleda, the PBA cager who got suspended for a year after attacking a heckler.
“It is just not fair. If they must live up to what they claim to be pro-athlete, then they should reconsider our appeal,” said Aznar.
Aznar said he is fighting to keep Poligrates in the squad so the cager can continue his studies.