Team Philippines outshines Dubai in Polo Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Team Philippines rammed in four goals in the second chukker and went on to fashion out a 13-9 victory over Dubai in the Belo Polo Cup 2015 Battle of the Titans before a big crowd yesterday in Makati.

Though penalized by a goal before the start of the tournament for carrying a handicap of 17 against only 15 for the visitors, the hosts quickly tied the match behind Argentinian 7-goaler Niño Obregon, who came through with a brilliant maneuver for an easy goal.

Team Phl produced four more goals in the next frame with Obregon picking up another and also had a hand in one of two goals made by Fil-Am Anthony Garcia for a 5-1 lead.

But Dubai, through the leadership of team patron Sam Instone, refused to give up as it rallied behind Matthias Zabaleta’s brilliant plays to keep the match presented by Belo Medical Group close.

But Team Phl held on and foiled Dubai’s fightback.

Mikee Romero, whose company Globalport helped organize the first 17-goal match in the country in 20 years, capped Team Phl’s romp with a huge shot of his own.

“In a high-level game like this, it is important to have a teamwork and it showed,” said Romero, who finished with three goals. “It was a tough win.”

While it was Obregon who sparked Team Phl’s early charge, it was Garcia who bagged the MVP honors with six goals.

Obregon and Miguel Diaz – playing in the country for the second time – had two goals each while Zabaleta paced Dubai with four goals.

In the side event, Sonny Borromeo delivered three goals to power Team Yellow to an 8-2 victory over Team Blue.