MANILA, Philippines - Adrian Garcia scored three goals as he powered the Black Team to a 6-2 victory over the Yellow squad and into the finals of the first Harbour Centre-AirAsia Polo Cup in Makati last Thursday.
Garcia, 19, knocked in the three goals in the first two of four chukkers to scuttle the Yellow Team and arrange a title showdown with Blue Team in the event backed by Oracle Hotel and Residences and Folded and Hung.
“We could have scored more but we missed a lot on our chances. But overall it was a good and competitive match,” said Garcia.
Jersey No. 3 in polo is reserved for the team’s ace player and Garcia lived up to that billing.
His showdown with Blue Team’s Jake Zobel and Alfonso Araneta – scions of polo patrons Inigo and Greggy Araneta – is expected to stir up the finals set Sunday.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a close call, both teams boast of explosive scorers,” said Harbour Centre CEO and president Mikee Romero.
The Blue squad earned the first finals berth by downing the Red Team, 10-4.
Garcia is a high school graduate from Ateneo who decided to pursue a polo career. He’s now a member of the Dahlwood Polo Club in Chicago Illinois that won last year’s Governor’s Cup 8-Goal tournament.
Aside from his goals that gave them a 4-1 after two chukkers, Garcia produced two perfect assists to Jim Donovan who scored in both plays.
Jimboy Dulay scored Black’s first goal while Sonny Borromeo accounted for the second and final goal of the Yellow team on a 30-meter foul shot in the dying seconds of the 28-minute game.
The High Goal on Sunday will pit the Red Team of Romero and Inigo Zobel against the Blue Team of former Philippine Polo Team captain Antonio Veloso. Aside from Romero and Zobel, other members of the Red Team are Manot Montilla and 5-goal handicap Anthony Garcia. Veloso will have Gus Aguirre, Cole Aguirre and Santi Elizalde as teammates.