Two kinds of horsepower

MANILA, Philippines - This year’s Enrique Zobel Memorial Polo Cup (EZMPC) held last Feb. 1 was a twin celebration.

PGA Cars, Inc., the exclusive importer and distributor for Porsche and Audi in the Philippines and the Cup’s sponsor, had quite a bit to blow its horn about this year. At the same time, the Manila Polo Club commemorated its 100th year, completing the facility renovations just in time for the centennial polo season.

The fourth of 13 games of the 2009 polo season was well-attended by more than 200, including a “who’s who” from the sports, motoring, business, retail lifestyle industries and diplomatic circles.

With Audi’s 2009 slogan, “A Century of New Thinking,” the precision automaker celebrates a dazzling past as well as a forward-looking future that capitalizes on the German propensity for technical advancement and expertise, or what is known as Vorsprung durch Technik. That was the banner headlining this PGA-sponsored tournament, reminding all of the invincible “Vorsprung” trademark, and proving once again Audi is a global leader. With the introduction of a new range of models, 2008’s end-of-year sales soared beyond expected figures (a concrete 16-percent increase in sales in the Asia-Pacific Region in December), and hit the one-million mark worldwide. Despite the economic climate and global automotive withdrawal symptoms lately, Audi is looking to improve on those positive markers in 2009. A century of new and positive thinking, indeed.

All eyes were drawn to the Manila Polo Club’s main entrance, where the PGA’s main “rides” were assembled along the driveway. Defined by speed, agility, brawn and muscle, these symbols of luxury are representative of everything polo stands for: the chosen ride for the “man’s man” who revels in sportiness and passion, likes to live on the edge and, of course, treasures his horsepower.

The guests, already enjoying the Italian sparking Bellagio wine from Wine Depot, finally settled down under the classic marquee on a sunny Sunday afternoon to watch the match. With perfect January polo weather, the prestigious Low Goal team matches — headlined by crowd favorites like Jake Zobel on the Porsche Whites team and Vince Bitong on the Porsche Blacks team — were a spirited preamble to the main event and kept the audience riveted to their seats.

Presiding over the festivities were Jack Clark Jr. and David de Padua, the masters of ceremonies, who went on to introduce the High Goal players, umpires and referee.

The horses and their riders paraded the field — a polo custom. Joining them were the beautiful Bianca Zobel and Thorsten Hagel, Porsche Training and Recruitment Center headmaster of Asia, who made his grand entrance in a gleaming Porsche 911 Cabriolet. Following the parade was the salute and ceremonial throw-in by Dee Zobel, widow of the late Enrique Zobel. She was accompanied by Manila Polo Club president Ramon Y. Dimacali and Audi operations director Benedicto Coyiuto.

The sparkling party hosts, the Zobel family together with PGA Cars chairman Robert Coyiuto Jr., made the rounds among polo enthusiasts and car aficionado friends like taipan Henry Sy and his sons (Henry “Big Boy” Sy Jr. and Harley Sy), Gov. Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr., Greggie Araneta, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito and Louie Ysmael. Also seen on the field with cocktail in hand was Anchor Land chairman Stephen Lee and PGA Cars publicist and Masterminds-Asia president Sunny Ku.

Adrenaline was pumping on the field once the second game commenced, with the Audi Reds (Jefri Bahar, Iñigo Zobel, David Stirling, Mark Field) pitted against the Audi Greys (Cole Aguirre, Santi Laborde, Anthony Garcia, Alejo Taranco). The High Goal game was peppered with heart-stopping offense and defensive maneuvers. Excitement built as the Red Squad executed fantastic moves on the field.

Thanks to stiff competition from two imports, Prince Jefri Bahar from Brunei and David Stirling from Uruguay (considered to be one of the best players in the world), the Audi Reds went home with the Cup after a final score of 13-8.

After the awarding of the winners by Dee Zobel, Ramon Dimacali and Thorsten Hagel, a parade of “star” Audis and Porsches — including the Audi TT, A4, A6, Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne — were showcased to cap off the highly successful event. The spectacular rides on display were a fitting complement to the equally spectacular High Goal game.

The parade’s end signaled cocktail time. House music flowed across the field as the Sunday crowd made a beeline for the late afternoon cocktails in the pleasant breeze. It was an impressively festive celebratory buffet spread replete with a churning roasted calf. Making a detour to the car display, however, was racer Dante Silverio, who couldn’t peel his eyes away from the slick Audi R8.

Wine Depot’s prime selections for the event — such as the Houghton Late-picked Verdelho, the Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc 2007, the Cape Jaffa Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 and the Terra Burdigala Sauvignon Blanc 2007 — kept guests happy and bubbly while Wine Depot’s gourmet deli, the Vittoria coffee stand and the popular San Miguel Beer corner were also popular.

As with every year, 2009’s Enrique Zobel Memorial Polo Cup was defined by three words: speed, power and luxury.

For more information contact PGA Cars Audi Center Philippines at 727-0381 and 727-0145 or visit its showroom at 201 EDSA Mandaluyong City.