AirAsia Crystal Cup opens Mikee polofest

MANILA, Philippines - The Romero Polo Festival unwraps today with the staging of the first-ever AirAsia’s Crystal Cup with the country’s young guns slugging it out for prestige and bragging rights at the Alabang Country Club field.

Though he’s relatively new in the sport, Globalport owner Mikee Romero went all out to put up the two-day polo festival in his effort to give the emerging stars like Jam, Nicole and Massu Eusebio and Kimberly Lofgren a venue where they could display their talent and skills against the veterans.

“I’m putting up this tournament in order to give the young players the exposure they have been longing for,” said Romero. “This tournament will boost their confidence since they will learn a trick or two from the respected professionals.”

The AirAsia’s Crystal Cup is a two-game event featuring a low goal and high goal round-robin tournaments.

Highlighting the polo festival is the holding of the 10-goal Globalport 900’s Sultan Cup on Sunday where top pros from Argentina, England and Mexico will reinforce the local players. Two Thai players – Tal Srivaddhanaprabha and Ploy Bhinsaeng – are out to prove their mettle.

According to Jun Juban, AAC chair for polo, the young players will be divided into two groups with veteran Freddie Borromeo heading the Red team and Swedish Lars Lofgren leading the White squad.

Also in the Red team are the Eusebios and Dary Matti while the White team will also have Butch Albert, Eduardo Lopez, Kimberly Lofgren and actor Diether Ocampo.

The other event for the day is the high-goal where Romero’s Team Globalport goes up against Team King Power. Also in Romero’s group are Bhinsaeng, Britain’s Jake Gordon and Anthony Garcia. Team King Power will be bannered by Srivaddhanaprabha along with Sonny Borromeo, Jun Juban and Argentinian pro Miguel Diaz. Making up the third team are Santi Juban, Jim Donovan, Adrian Garcia and Mexican pro Isidro Olivas.