SEA Games: PH polo team shoots for gold

By Jan Carlo Anolin

CALATAGAN, BATANGAS – Rep. Mikee Romero, one of the spearheads for the Philippine polo team in the 0-2 goals event, wants no less than the gold medal in the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian Games here at Miguel Romero Polo Field.

Romero, still recovering from the injury he suffered during training in Argentina recently, said all the teams will be a threat for the national team but assured everyone he will come back stronger and play when the games begin on December 3.

“Kaya natin. Papanalo namin ‘to,” Romero told reporters Saturday before the inauguration of the “Bamboo Pavilion.”

The Bamboo Pavilion inside the vast Miguel Romero Polo Field was built for the royalties who are expected to grace and watch the event.

The Nationals will make the most out of the home-field advantage against Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.

But just like any other sports, Romero wants to take it one game at a time. “This is SEA Games. Anything can happen sa SEA Games,” he said.

Aside from Romero, veteran polo player Antonio Veloso will add firepower to the horseback-riding athletes.

“[The] mixture of some young and older guys is what I thought would be the best combination for the team,” national coach Alexander Anthony Garcia said.

Completing the Philippine team are Coco Garcia, Nicole Eusebio, Jam Eusebio and Santi Juban.

The best two teams with the best winning record after battling each other will face in the finals.

“We just have to make sure that we have the horses and the players in absolute sync for them to be successful,” Garcia said.

Other than the host, one other country should have no such concern: Brunei brought horses of their own while the remaining teams borrowed from the available mounts. (Jan Carlo Anolin) ###

Source: Manila Bulletin