Alza Alayon Zamboanga Del Sur will lean on their backcourt tandem of flashy Cebuano guard Eloy Poligrates and Cagayan de Oro native Dan Sara in their campaign in the Mindanao leg of the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup.
The team’s head coach Bong Abad asserted this during the team’s press conference.
"We expect Eloi and Dan to lead our team in the VisMin Super Cup," said Abad, who previously coached the University of San Carlos Warriors in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI).
The 33-year old Poligrates is a crowd-favorite dating back to his time playing for Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras. A well-travelled hoopster who has played in the PBA, the PBA D-League and most recently, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League where he played for Valenzuela, Poligrates is expected to shoulder a lot of the offensive load for the Zamboanga Del Sur.
However, he will get some help from Sara, a 5-foot-7 point guard who used to play for the Batangas-Tanduay during the MPBL Lakan Cup.
Also set to give Alayon some veteran presence are former San Juan big man Jeff Tajonera and ex-Nueva Ecija gunner Adrian Celada.
Completing the squad are Cebuanos Russel Moneva and Charles Pepito, former University of Cebu Websmasters JR Puerto and John Jabello as well as Eric Bangcoyan, Shawn Labisores, Orly Biwang, Mario Junio, Levert Lintayan, Daryl Cruz, Vanrolph Amoquis, Kenith Dela Cruz, Ruben Caritan, Archie Cabrilla, Hans Sison, JR Raflores, Klent Singedas, and Constacio Lumingkit.
Governor Victor Yu said he believes that Zamboanga del Sur is well equipped to take on the best that the Mindanao leg has to offer.
"We plan on winning the championship while also inspiring the youth to enter sports. We can't wait for the competition to start and showcase what Mindanao basketball is all about," Yu said.
Team owner Rep. Divina Yu, on the other hand, shared that she trusts the league in putting up another safe bubble as it did in Alcantara, Cebu for the Visayas leg.
"We believe that VisMin Super Cup will ensure the safety of our players in their bubble," she said. (JNP)