CALATAGAN, Batangas, Philippines – Winning the gold medal on home turf remains the ultimate goal for the Philippine national polo team after testing its mettle against some world class players yesterday prior to the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Led by Rep. Mikee Romero, the Nationals played a 2-in-1 friendly game against a select team that included Argentine Pedro Manion and British Jake Gordon at the Miguel Romero Polo Field here which got inaugurated yesterday.
Coach Anthony Garcia liked what he saw as other national team members Tonio Veloso, Noel Vecimal, Jam Eusebio, Coco Garcia and Nicole Eusebio were fielded in the scrimmage for 0-2 polo event that was cut into two separate matches. Other national team members who did not suit up were Gus Aguirre, Tommy Bitong, Anthony Filamor, Marty Romualdez, Ed Lopez and Jay de Jesus.
“For the most part, they were good then the latter part they showed some of the weaknesses which we still need to improve. We’re moving in the right direction,” said Garcia as the Nationals struggled for just two goals in the fast-paced 12-goal friendly.
“But it was not a game for them to win against pro players. It was a match for them to pick up the speed the opponents are playing so when they plunge into the 2-goal event which is slower, it would be easier for them.”
Two gold medals in the 0-2 goal, which fires off Dec. 3, and 4-6 goal, which begins today, are at stake in this SEA Games.
Three teams in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei stand in the way of the Philippines.
“We’ve got 4-5 practices to go. They’re good but again I just told them it’s not that they have to improve but it’s about maintaining excellence,” he said. “They played good in the first so they just have to play that good throughout the whole SEAG and we’ll be successful.”
Still injured, hurting all, the never-say-die Romero likewise stays confident and determined on their gold medal bid especially with the SEA Games slated at the venue named after his beloved late son, Miguel.
“I dedicate this SEA Games to my son Miguel who should be playing here. He was playing polo all the time here. He’s still part of the SEA Games because the whole facility is named after him already,” said Romero who is also the current 1-Pacman partylist representative and House Deputy Speaker.
Romero, the Philippine National Federation of Polo Players founding director, is actually nursing a back injury he suffered after a hard fall in last week’s Argentina camp but even that would not stop him from riding his way into the biennial sports conclave for pride and love of his son and the Philippines.
“Even if I can hardly walk or ride my horse. I will still play. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity especially at my age,” he said. “I like our chances and with this world-class facility, we hope that we can do two things: one is host the game properly and second is to win the gold medal for the country.”
Pulling out all the stops to make this happen, the sportsman Romero -- who also used to be a national team member in basketball, shooting and arnis -- has chosen the 25 best horses from his renowned stable for the national team.
Romero will play in the 0-2 goal polo event starting on Dec. 3 at this event while the 4-6 goal event fires off today at the Zobel owned-Hacienda Bigaa also in Calatagan, Batangas.