Pinoy polo bets bag silver in All Asia Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine polo is moving in the right direction, and the leadership of the Philippine National Federation of Polo Players (PNFPP) is extremely happy with the continued rise of the national team in the Asian standings.

GlobalPort-Philippines boosted its stock with an impressive runner-up finish in the recent fifth All Asia Cup 2020 that saw them score a vengeful win over Indonesia at the VS Sports Club & Siam Polo Park in Preng, Thailand.

Though the team was beaten by the host in the final of the six-nation tournament, PNFPP founding director and House Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero was happy with their showing especially with victories against some of their Southeast Asian rivals.

“Up against some of the best teams in the Asian region, we proved we can be at par with them,” said Romero, a member of the Philippine team that won the bronze medal in last year’s SEA Games at the world-class Miguel Romero Field in Calatagan, Batangas.

“Given more time to train and play in various tournaments abroad, I do believe we can play much better next time,” added Romero. “The chemistry is there so we just have to sustain it.”

The Thailand event is considered as one of the toughest in the region, and many polo players are one in saying it is as strong as the Asian Games.

After dropping its initial game – also against Thailand – Team Phl, composed of Anthony Garcia, Adrian Garcia, Robert Esguerra and Romero beat Brunei, 10-9, in a tense quarterfinal clash.

The Nationals then played their best game by downing Indonesia, 8-5.5 to secure their first finals appearance in the event that gathered some of the rich and famous in the region, including Brunei’s Princess Azemah Bolkiah and Prince Bahar, Shilai Liu and the billionaire Srivaddhanaprabha siblings – Apichet and Aiyawatt – of Thailand.

In last year’s SEA Games, the Indons beat the Nationals, 9-4.5.