The sport of polo is now getting wider acceptance in the country – big thanks to its young and aggressive patrons.
Proof of it is the staging of the first-ever back-to-back tournaments this weekend at the Alabang Country Club polo field where the young guns get a rare chance to mingle and play against the battle-scarred veterans.
“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 standard of the sport in the country to improve by leaps and bounds after the 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 two-day polo festival that will be graced by several powerful figures from both the business and government sectors. Romero is fast rising one of the tough guys in the sport now a days.
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 – the 10-goal Globalport 900’s Sultan Cup.
The event on Saturday is the AirAsia’s Crystal Cup, a two-game affair featuring a low goal and high goal round robin tournaments.
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.