Romero polo festival slated at Alabang

MANILA, Philippines - Two top-notch polo events, including the 10-goal Globalport 900’s Sultan Cup, will highlight this weekend’s action at the Alabang Country Club with the young guns and the veterans mixing it up in a rare face-off.

The AirAsia’s Crystal Cup, a two-game affair featuring a low goal and high goal round-robin tournaments, kicks off the two-day polo festival on Saturday with the Sultan Cup capping the weekend of international polo action Sunday.

“Technically, this is the first time that we will have two straight polo tournaments,” said Jun Juban, chair of Alabang CC’s polo committee. “So the saying that polo is the sport only the ‘kings’ can afford is now a misnomer. We now have a wider audience than before.”

The producer of several blockbuster Hollywood movies, including the “Bourne Legacy”, expects the level of play to further improve after the two tournaments.

“I’m sure they will be inspired to train harder after being exposed to this kind of tournaments where top players from different countries will be displaying their stuff,” he added.

Former amateur basketball godfather Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre is sponsoring polo festival to be graced by top honchos from the business and government sectors.

Argentina’s Ambassador Joaquin Daniel Otero, AirAsia CEO Maan Hontiveros and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia have been invited to make the ceremonial toss on Sunday’s big event.

Rising stars like Jam, Nicole and Massu Eusebio, Kimberly Lofgren, Milka Romero, actor Diether Ocampo, Eduardo Lopez and Daryl Matti will try to impress in the low goal event. Veteran Freddie Borromeo will captain the White team while Swedish Lars Lofgren will spearhead the Red team.

The high-goal event is a 6-8 goal round-robin tournament where Team Globalport of Romero, Thailand’s patron Ploy Bhinsaeng, Britain’s Jake Gordon and Anthony Garcia goes up against Team King Power of Thailand’s Tal Srivaddhanaprabha, Filipino Sonny Borromeo, Santi Juban and Argentinian pro Miguel Diaz. The third team is composed of Jun Juban, Jim Donovan, Adrian Garcia and Mexican pro Isidro Olivas.