Mikee dazzles as Team Red rules H Center Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Team Red, drawing inspired performance from rookie Mikee Romero, clipped Team Blue, 9-7, to win the high goal championship in the inaugural Harbour Centre-AirAsia Polo Cup Sunday in Makati City.

With Anthony Garcia and Inigo Zobel providing the leadership and experience, Romero supplied the firepower, scoring three goals in a solid stint that impressed the crowd, including Embassy of Brazil Vice Consul Adilson Simoes de Oliveira and International Olympic Committee Representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde.

In the low goal championship, the Blues leaned on the heroics of Benjie Toda to score a come-from-behind 7-5 win.

Having only a 4-handicap against 6 for the Reds, the Blues were awarded an automatic 1-0 lead. But Manot Montilla scored two quick goals before Romero, CEO and president of Harbour Centre, knocked in his first goal for a 3-1 lead after the first chukker. 

Romero then completed two close-range feeds while Garcia, Zobel and Montilla knocked in a goal each as the Reds stormed to an 8-3 lead.

The Blues tried to get back by scoring three goals in the final two minutes but ran out of time in the 56-minute match.

“They (Blue) are a solid team but our training the past two weeks paid off because we had the right teamwork for this game,” said Romero, also the president of the Philippine National Shooting Association.

“It was a close match but we built a good advantage early in the game and that favored us. I would like to congratulate Harbour Centre and the Romero family for hosting the Cup and we hope to see them again in the next years,” said Garcia.

Manila Polo Club president Roman Azanza, Jr. was joined in by The Oracle Hotel and Residences CEO Sheila Romero, AirAsia president Maan Hontiveros and Folded and Hung president Ronald Pineda in awarding the trophies and Cup to the winning teams.