CEBU CITY -- A former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player was shot and wounded by a boy while having a drinking session with a group of friends here at dawn Tuesday, May 30.
Eliud Poligrates was wounded in the left shoulder. The incident happened around 3 a.m. in Barangay Duljo Fatima. Interviewed by a local radio station, Poligrates said he had gone to the area to get a dumbbell when he chanced upon a boy believed to be between 15 and 17 years old. Poligrates said the boy asked P20 from him which he turned down. Poligrates then proceeded to a store where his friends were drinking. At the store, Poligrates bought some bottles of beer when the boy showed up. The former PBA player said the boy confronted him for not giving him P20 and yet he was able to buy some beer. At the middle of the argument, the boy allegedly drew a gun and shot Poligrates. Police were called in and took the boy into custody. In a separate interview, the boy claimed that Poligrates assaulted him when he asked for P20 from him.